U.S. Air Force Colonel Kennard R. Wiggins Jr. retired from active duty on 1 October 2004 as the Air National Guard advisor to Training, and Deputy Chief, Air Force Training and Requirements, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington DC.  He enlisted in the Delaware Air National Guard on 17 February 1966 and served for six years as a Reciprocating Aircraft Engine mechanic.  In civilian life he pursued a career as an advertising artist and copywriter in Wilmington Delaware and later in Baltimore Maryland. After a short break in service, he re-enlisted in the Delaware Air National Guard and served as a graphic artist/illustrator and later as a Public Affairs technician, until he was commissioned in 1978 as the Public Affairs Officer with the 166th Airlift Group, Delaware Air National Guard.  

After approximately 19 years as a drilling Guardsman with a civilian advertising career, Wiggins entered active duty on a Title 10 statutory tour in March 1986 to assume the position of Chief, Advertising Recruiting Programs Branch with the Air National Guard Support Center at Andrews AFB.  He led the ANG to its high-water mark in end-strength, successfully meeting and exceeding recruiting and retention goals every year of his tenure. He cross-trained into Personnel and held several positions of responsibility in the Air National Guard Personnel Directorate during the next five years.  Serving as Chief of Personnel Management he helped the ANG successfully manage the post-Cold War draw-down in strength. As Sustainment Division Chief, he implemented ROPMA in the Air National Guard.  

In 1997, Wiggins was drafted to the Pentagon for a 45–day detail as speechwriter for the Chief, National Guard Bureau, LTG Ed Baca.  This detail was extended into a 30-month assignment. The subsequent Chief, Lt Gen Russell Davis, appointed Wiggins as his Chief, NGB Strategic Initiatives Group.  He served General Davis as trusted advisor and strategist for four years, developing the National Guard Homeland Defense posture, working the Quadrennial Defense Review on behalf of the NGB Joint Staff, and conducting Joint Futures Studies. 

Wiggins attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 2002-2003 at Ft. McNair, Washington DC.  After graduation, he was given his final assignment on the Air Staff. Retiring from active duty as an active duty Colonel, he was honored with the retired rank of Brigadier General in the Delaware Air National Guard. 

He served as the Executive Director of the Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation from 2005 until 2010. He  served as the Curator for the Delaware Military Museum for over ten years. He serves as the editor for the Delaware National Guard Retiree newsletter and as Public Affairs Officer for Delaware Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve. He is the Vice President for Communications for the William Spruance Chapter of the Air Force Association . 

In Cecil County, Maryland Wiggins served on the County Planning Commission for nine years and as the President of the Cecil County Public Library Board of Trustees for ten years.  He presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Fair Hill Nature Center.

General Wiggins resides in Elkton Maryland and is married to the former Elizabeth Green. They have a son and a daughter, and are blessed with four grandchildren.  He is a writer and historian specializing in local and regional military history. He is also an accomplished artist, and was the featured artist at the Cecil Arts Council July 2016, the Palette and Page Gallery in July 2021, and the Old Swedes Church in the summer of 2022. His artwork is on display at the Delaware Military Museum. 

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PUBLISHED WORKS 

Histories of Newark, 1758-2008, (Contributing Author) Wallflower Press, 2008

Delaware Air National Guard, Arcadia Publishing, 2008

Delaware Army National Guard, Arcadia Publishing, 2010

The Earl T. Ricks Memorial Trophy, A Forgotten Jet Age Championship, National Guard Education Foundation, 2011

Dover Air Force Base, Arcadia Publishing, 2011

Delaware Aviation, (Co-author with Jan Churchill) Arcadia Publishing, 2014

Delaware in World War I, History Press, 2015

America’s Anchor, A Naval History of the Delaware River and Bay, McFarland Publishing Co. , 2019

Delaware Patriot Heroes, Robert Kirkwood and Peter Jaquett, History Press, 2024

The Early Air National Guard, 1946-1965, Fonthill Media, 2024

A Partial Listing of Speaking Topics

America’s Anchor, Naval History Delaware River and Bay

Delaware Air Guard History

Delaware Army Guard History

Delaware in World War I

Delaware in World War II

Delaware Militia at Cooch’s Bridge

Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation 101

Delawareans on the Mexican Border 1916-1917

Delaware State Guard

Dover Air Force Base

Early History of the Air National Guard

Legal History of the National Guard

Maryland in World War I

Memorial Day Monuments

New Castle Airbase

Opening Act: Delaware Prepares for War (Pearl Harbor)

Revolutionary Battle Buddies: Kirkwood and Jaquett

USS Delawares

USS Wilmington

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES

King’s Grant Homeowner’s Association President, Upper Marlboro MD, 1994-2001

Cecil County Citizen's Oversight Committee for the 2010 Comprehensive Plan

Cecil County Public Library, Board of Trustees, President, 2011-2021

Cecil County Strategic Plan Citizens Advisory Board Committee member 2014

Cecil County Elected Officials Compensation Commission, 2016, Chairman,

Cecil County Planning Commission (three terms 2008-2017), Vice Chairman 

AFFILIATIONS

781st Bomb Squadron Association, President

Air Force Association, Life member

Air Mobility Museum, Life member

Army Alliance, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Former Board Member

Boy Scouts of America, DelMarVa Council, Troop 443

Cecil County Arts Council

Cecil County Public Library, Board of Trustees, President

Cecil Land Use Alliance

Committee for Employer Support Guard and Reserve, Public Affairs Officer

Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation, Life member, Curator

Delaware National Guard Retired Officers Association, Scribe, Life member

Fair Hill Nature Center, Board Member and Secretary

Friends of the Cecil County Public Library

Historical Society of Cecil County

Military Order of World Wars, Companion

Mission Readiness, Member

National Guard Association of Delaware, Life member

National Guard Association of the United States, Life member

National Maritime Historical Society

Pencader Heritage Area Association, History Advisor

Road to Recovery Volunteer Driver American Cancer Society 

SaveFairHill, Vice President

Storytime Volunteer Reader, Cecil County Public Library

The Army Historical Foundation

Wilmington University, History Advisory Board 

EDUCATION

National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, 2003

     Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy (Agribusiness)

University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 1991

     Bachelor of Arts degree, Arts and Humanities

USAF Air War College, Seminar 

USAF Air Command and Staff College, Seminar

USAF Squadron Officer School, Correspondence

Cecil Leadership Institute, Cecil College, 2016

TRAINING

USAF Basic Military Training, Amarillo AFB TX, 1966

USAF Reciprocating Aircraft Engine School, Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls TX, 1966

ANG Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson ANGB, Alcoa TN, 1978

 Department of Defense Information School, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis IN, 1979

USAF Advanced Personnel Officer Course, Maxwell AFB AL, 1992

USAF Inspector General Investigating Officer Course, Jacksonville FL, 2003

AWARDS and DECORATIONS

Legion of Merit with one device

Meritorious Service Medal with one device

USAF Commendation Medal

Army Commendation Medal

USAF Achievement Medal with two devices

Army Achievement Medal

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one device

Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with two devices

National Defense Service Medal with one device

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal 

Air Force Longevity Service Award, with eight devices

Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one device

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)

Air Force Training Ribbon with one device

Delaware National Guard Conspicuous Service Cross with one device

Delaware National Guard Distinguished Service Medal 

Delaware National Guard Medal for Military Merit with one device        

Delaware National Guard Medal for Service in Aid of Civil Authority

Michigan Legion of Merit

Delaware Air National Guard Annual Honoree 2021

Presented the State Seal of the State of Delaware on retirement

National Guard Bureau Eagle Award

ICAF Commandant’s Award for Research and Writing Excellence

Silver Patrick Henry Patriotism Achievement Medal (MOWW)

Air Force Association Medal of Merit

DATES OF RANK

Enlisted 16 February 1966

Appointed First Lieutenant USAF(AMS) 27 July1978

Promoted to Captain USAF 9 December 1981

Promoted to Major USAF November 1985 

Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel USAF 3 December 1992

Promoted to Colonel USAF 30 March 2000

Promoted to Brigadier General (Delaware Air National Guard) 21 July 2004

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