107th Airlift Wing Welcomes New Commander With Formal Assumption of Command Ceremony on Saturday, June 6

Media Advisory

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, New York (06/03/2026) — Colonel Christopher H. Weisshaar will take command of the New York Air National Guard's 107th Attack Wing during a June 6 ceremony at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

Members of the press are invited to attend the ceremony.

WHO: Colonel Christopher H. Weisshaar, the new commander of the 107th Attack Wing, Major General Gary Charlton II, the commander of the New York Air National Guard; men and women of the 107th Attack Wing.

WHAT: An assumption of command ceremony in which Weisshaar will be officially acknowledged as the wing commander. He replaces Col. Andrew Carlson who has retired. The guidon of the 107th Attack Wing will be handed to Weisshaar by Charlton, symbolizing his command of the wing's 700 Airmen. The tradition dates back to the days when Soldiers on the battlefield followed the flag into battle and the ceremony allowed the men to see who would lead them into combat.

WHEN: 2:15 p.m., Saturday, June 6, 2026. Members of the press must arrive at the gate no later than 2:15 p.m. for access to this secure facility.

WHERE : 10405 Lockport Road, Niagara Falls, New York.

Coverage Opportunities

Reporters can collect video and still imagery for the ceremony. There will be opportunities to interview Col. Weisshaar.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Members of the press must contact Capt, Jason Carr at jason.carr.11@us.af.mil, or phone 716-475-0011 for access to this secure military facility . Real ID requirements remain in effect, a driver's license used for personal identification must be in compliance, or the individual must provide a US Passport as proof of identification. Military personnel will be provided to escort you onto the base, to the event space and back.

BACKGROUND:

Colonel Christopher H. Weisshaar

Colonel Christopher Weisshaar is a 2003 graduate of the United States Naval Academy who joined the Air National Guard in 2013. He is a master navigator with over 4,000 flying hours.

He joined the New York Air National Guard in November 2025, serving as the commander of the 107th Operations Group, responsible for MQ-9 flight operations.

He served as a naval flight officer assigned to VP-1, a P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft squadron based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state.

During that assignment he deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq supporting operations of the Air Force's 745th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron.

He was assigned to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida serving with VPU-1, and deployed to Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.

In 2013 he joined the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing.

As an Air National Guard member Weisshaar has served in a number of key positions at National Guard Bureau, including Manned Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Functional Area Manager, Deputy Director of Air National Guard Plans and Execution, and Air National Guard Deputy Director of Strategy, Design, Innovation, and Requirements at the National Guard Bureau.

Weisshar was also assigned to the Force Design Branch Chief to the Air Force Warfighting Integration Capabilities Office at the Pentagon.

In 2022, Weisshaar was selected as a National Security Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal.

The 107th Attack Wing

The New York Air National Guard's 107th Attack Wing is headquartered at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and is a tenant of the U.S. Air Force Reserve's 914th Air Refueling Wing.

The wing operates the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. The wing has no MQ-9s assigned but MQ-9 aircrews and support staff conduct missions from a facility at the base by operating aircraft assigned to other wings.

The wing also includes two remotely located units, the 222nd Command and Control Squadron, a unique space operations unit headquartered in Rome, and the 274th Air Support Operations Squadron, located at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse.

The 107th Attack Wing also responds to New York state emergencies at the direction of the governor.

Media Attachments