JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri’s Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Levon Cumpton, announced July 11, Brig. Gen. Ken Eaves will oversee the Show Me State’s Citizen-Airmen.
In a ceremony today at the Missouri National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters here, Col. Ken Eaves was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Eaves officially assumed the role of Assistant Missouri National Guard Adjutant General July 11. During the ceremony, Cumpton lauded Eaves' many accomplishments that qualified him for this important position on the Guard’s command team.
“Brig. Gen. Eaves is an outstanding officer who is ready to lead at a higher level,” Cumpton said. “During his tenure as commander of the 131st Bomb Wing, the National Guard’s only B-2 Spirit stealth bomber wing, the wing repeatedly distinguished itself in federal and state metrics. His experience training and preparing Air men and women for their state and federal mission is unparalleled in the Air National Guard.”
In his new position, Eaves will serve as the commander of the Missouri Air National Guard’s more than 2,300 Citizen-Airmen.
“I am honored Brig. Gen. Cumpton selected me for this position, and look forward to leading and supporting Missouri’s Airmen at a higher level,” Eaves said. “Our Citizen-Airmen are among the nation’s best, and have served with distinction in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world. They have also supported the people of Missouri dozens of times in the past decade during state emergency missions.”
The Missouri Air National Guard has two flying wings and a state headquarters. The 139th Airlift Wing, which flies the C-130H Hercules aircraft, is located in St. Joseph, while the 131st Bomb Wing, which flies the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, is headquartered at Whiteman Air Force Base with additional Airmen at Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis. As Assistant Adjutant General, Eaves will be stationed at the Missouri National Guard Headquarters in Jefferson City.
“Our Airmen heave repeatedly answered the call at home and abroad,” Eaves said. “On any given day, we have Airmen deployed or training to deploy to support their federal mission. In the past several months, Airmen have been staffing COVID testing sites and supporting other missions for the state’s COVID-19 response efforts. No matter the challenge, our Airmen are always ready. ”
At Whiteman, Eaves worked closely with the 131st’s classic associate partner unit, the active duty 509th Bomb Wing. The partnership is touted as a model for Air Force total force integration, with active duty Air Force and National Guard Airmen working together as one integrated team.
Eaves is a highly-experienced pilot with more than 3,400 flight hours in the T-37, T-38, F-15 and B-2. He flew combat missions during operations Provide Comfort and Northern Watch. As commander of the 131st Bomb Wing, he served a key role in ensuring the readiness of the National Guard’s only B-2 wing. Additionally, Eaves has a broad background of experience with assignments in flying operations, instruction, safety, wing staff and command positions.
He has earned numerous medals, ribbons and other citations, including the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal with six oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
Eaves is a graduate of LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, and the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
“I look forward to working alongside our Army National Guard partners in defending this great state and nation,” Eaves said. “I fully expect our Airmen to continue setting the standard for the Missouri National Guard, and I look forward to leading them during this critical time in our country’s history.”
For more information about this release, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 573-638-9846 or e-mail at mo.ngpao@mail.mil.