Yesterday (Thursday), Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Colonel Mark A. Muckey, a Sioux City native, will become the next Deputy Adjutant General for the Iowa Air National Guard. Muckey recently served as the commander of the 185th Air Refueling Wing, but his career initially began in 1984 at the Academy of Military Science. Muckey is a command pilot with over 4,000 flight hours, mainly in the C-130 Hercules and KC-135R Stratotanker, with deployments in Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. Reynolds says, “Like the Iowa National Guard itself, Colonel Muckey has proven ‘always ready’ to protect and serve. For almost forty years, he has served our nation with distinction all over the world, and his highly decorated military resume speaks to the courage and skill he brings to every deployment. I want to congratulate Colonel Muckey for his coming promotion to Brigadier General and thank him for once again answering the call.” His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Aerial Achievement Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters. Muckey replaces Brigadier General Shaw Ford, who retired from military service in August.
