Wyoming Air National Guard relieves two senior commanders for 'loss of confidence'

Published Jul 21, 05:08 PM UTC

On July 17, the Wyoming Air National Guard relieved two senior commanders: Col. Brian Diehl, commander of the 153rd Airlift Wing, and Col. Lawrence Sullivan, commander of the 153rd Operations Group. The firings were attributed to a 'loss of confidence and trust in their ability to effectively lead and command,' a standard military phrasing that typically accompanies reliefs for performance, misconduct, or subordinate failures. Brig. Gen. Barry Deibert, the state's top Air Guard officer, stated that leaders must meet high standards of conduct and accountability. Diehl, an airlift pilot with special operations experience, had returned to the wing in 2023. Sullivan, a former Army helicopter pilot who transferred to the Air Force in 1998, joined the 153rd in 2024. The 153rd Wing operates C-130H aircraft for missions including strategic airlift, firefighting, and Antarctic resupply. The reliefs were first reported by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.