K-STATE AT SALINA DIRECTOR PROMOTED IN AIR NATIONAL GUARD

August 9, 2004

SALINA – A longtime participant in the military, Mike Wise has completed training for his promotion as master sergeant. He was promoted to master sergeant in May; his new duties began upon his graduation in July from the U.S. Air Force First Sergeant Academy at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala.

Wise serves in the 190th Air Refueling Wing aircraft maintenance squadron in the Kansas Air National Guard at Forbes Field in Topeka. He works full time for Kansas State University as director of aircraft maintenance for the aviation department in the College of Technology and Aviation, located on the Salina campus.

As first sergeant of the squadron, Wise will be responsible for ensuring that the commander has a mission-ready force. This includes training, health, morale, welfare, deployment and a host of other issues. He said that working with the enlisted members is one of the most rewarding aspects of his career in the military, and especially in his new position.

“I am privileged to serve our country and its people and to serve with dedicated citizen airmen,” he said. “I especially appreciate the opportunity to work toward a common goal with fellow 190th members.”

Wise has a long history with the military, including six years of active duty in the U.S. Navy, from 1971 to 1977. During this time, he was deployed on three tours in Southeast Asia and two tours in Vietnam as enlisted aircrew. More than 16 years later, in 1994 Wise joined the Guard. He since has been deployed to France for Operation Deliberate Guard, to Italy for Operation Deny Flight and to Turkey for Operation Enduring Freedom.

<back