Defense official to tour 186th

By By William F. West / community editor
Jan. 16, 2003
A general who manages global transport for the U.S. Department of Defense will stop in Meridian on Friday to visit the 186th Air Refueling Wing of the Mississippi Air National Guard.
Gen. John W. Handy will tour the 186th headquarters at Key Field. He also will stop at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi and the National Guard's Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport.
Handy is in charge of the U.S. Transportation Command, which is responsible for managing the global air, land and sea transportation for the Department of Defense.
He is also in charge of the U.S. Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill which helps mobilize America's armed forces and provide humanitarian support at home and around the world.
Maj. Gen. James H. Lispcomb III, commander of the Mississippi National Guard, said Handy's visit will mean much to the 186th.
Lipscomb said Friday's visit to the 186th will be the first for Handy. Lipscomb said Handy is expected to return to the state next month to visit the 172nd Air National Guard unit at Jackson.