PORTLAND, Ore. – The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing, located at the Portland Air National Guard Base, will welcome a new commander during a change of command ceremony here, December 2nd, at 3:00 p.m. 

Col. Michael B. Kosderka will succeed Col. Todd A. Hofford as the Wing Commander, overseeing nearly 1,400 personnel in executing their F-15 Eagle Aerospace Control Alert mission in defense of the Pacific Northwest, worldwide deployments supporting national objectives, and local state missions as directed by the governor. 

Colonel Kosderka has spent all 24 years of his military career in the Oregon Air National Guard. He has been deployed in support of Overseas Contingency Operations throughout the world, including Operation Noble Eagle. Colonel Kosderka received his bachelor’s degree in Mathematical Science in 1998 from Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon and a Master’s in Business Administration from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. 

In his previous assignment, Colonel Kosderka served as the Director of Staff for the Oregon Air National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters in Salem. He also served as the 142nd Maintenance Group Commander from September 2020 through December 2021 in Portland. Col. Kosderka is rated as a senior pilot with over 1,200 flying hours, most recently in the F-15 Eagle.

Col. Hofford has served as the 142nd Wing Commander the past two years beginning in December 2021 to December 2023.  During his tenure, the wing’s aerospace control alert mission culminated in a 1st Air Force Alert “Unit of the Year” designation. Col. Hofford later coauthored and initiated the planning and execution of the Enduring Partners 2023 State Partnership Program dissimilar air combat exercise at Korat Air Base, Thailand.

Col. Hofford began his military career in 1993 when he enlisted in the Air National Guard as a munitions systems specialist with the 173rd Fighter Wing in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He received his officer commission from the Academy of Military Science in 1998 and later attended Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1999. Col. Hofford is rated as a command pilot with more than 2,600 flying hours, primarily in the F-15 Eagle. Col. Hofford’s next assignment will be as the principal deputy director, A3/10 at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

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Media members wishing to attend, please email 142.wg.pa@us.af.mil by Saturday, 2 December no later than 9 a.m.

About the 142nd Wing:

The Portland Air National Guard Base employs 1,500 Airmen who provide an economic impact of nearly $500 million to the region. The 142nd Wing defends our homeland with F-15 Eagle fighter jets, guarding the Pacific Northwest skies from northern California to the Canadian border through their Aerospace Control Alert mission as part of Air Combat Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Their mission is to provide unequalled, mission-ready units to sustain combat aerospace superiority and peacetime tasking any time, any place in service to our nation, state and community.