Two Wyoming Air National Guard commanders relieved of duty over loss of confidence

Published Jul 22, 07:25 PM UTC

On July 17, 2026, Col. Brian Diehl, commander of the 153rd Airlift Wing, and Col. Lawrence Sullivan, commander of the 153rd Operations Group, were relieved of their posts by Brig. Gen. Barry Deibert due to a loss of confidence and trust in their ability to lead effectively. The Wyoming Military Department did not provide specific reasons for the decision, but Deibert emphasized that Air National Guard leaders are held to high standards of professional conduct and accountability. Col. Bret Trippel assumed interim command of the wing, and Lt. Col. Tony Silva took over the operations group. The 153rd Airlift Wing, based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, operates C-130 Hercules aircraft, and officials stated the leadership change does not affect mission readiness or deployment preparations.