STORY: For Immediate Release
October 12, 2022

Chris Blomquist, the new Chief of Staff of the Minnesota Air National Guard, was promoted to
brigadier general during a ceremony at the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minnesota, in front of
family, military leaders, community leaders, and 148th Fighter Wing members on Saturday,
September 10, 2022.

“In your new role as the Chief of Staff of the Minnesota Air National Guard, you are charged
with inspiring over 2,200 Airmen at Minnesota’s two flying wings,” said Minnesota National
Guard’s Adjutant General Army Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke.

Minnesota’s Air National Guard is comprised of the 133rd Airlift Wing, equipped with C-130
Hercules cargo aircraft in Minneapolis, and the 148th Fighter Wing, equipped with the F-16
Fighting Falcon in Duluth.

Cohesion is high on Blomquist’s list of priorities as he assumes this new role.

“My goals are to continue improving the organization at a level that extends to both Wings and
Joint Force Headquarters. I want to bring more jointness or collaboration between the Air and
Army. I want to give everyone an opportunity to reach their highest potential and improve the
Air National Guard by doing so,” he said.

Blomquist, a Wisconsin native, earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of
Wisconsin – Superior in 1994 and a Master of Business Administration from the College of Saint
Scholastica in 2016.

Blomquist served as commander of the 148th since 2017, where he oversaw two significant
mobilization cycles in 2018 and 2022 that deployed nearly half of the Wing’s more than 1000
Airmen overseas to southwest Asia. During his command, Blomquist and the 148th were faced
with unprecedented State missions including COVID-19 pandemic support, support of
Minnesota floods and civil unrest in the metro, and sending members to conduct security at the
59th Presidential Inauguration.

Those unique missions allowed Blomquist to look at the big picture.

“We prioritize people, modernization, and partnerships. I’m excited to help bring my experience
in basing discussions and national-level advocacy for modernization to our Air Wings. I look
forward to building and strengthening more partnerships across the State with our military,
businesses, and civilian and governmental organizations,” he said.

Prior to commanding the 148th, Blomquist served as an F-16 pilot, flight commander, chief
instructor pilot and flight examiner, 179th Fighter Squadron commander, 148th Deputy
Operations Group commander, and 148th Fighter Wing vice commander. His deployments
include Balad Air Force Base, Iraq, in 2005 and 2008 and Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, in 2012.

Blomquist believes a change in pace will help him and the organization be successful.
“Instead of always being on mission and trying to maximize scarce resources for a Fighter Wing,
I’m able to take the time to think and act more strategically and long-term. I can do that for both
Air wings now and have the luxury of having a bit more time to think critically and act in the
best interest of the Minnesota National Guard,” he said.

Blomquist is replacing Brig. Gen. Sandy Best, who recently retired after 38 years of service to
the Minnesota National Guard. He is looking forward the new role.

“I look forward to meeting more of our Airmen and Soldiers across the State of Minnesota. I’m
excited to enhance partnerships that ultimately help take better care of our members, their
families as well as our State and Nation. I think I bring a unique perspective to modernization
for our Air National Guard and hope to have lasting impacts for the good of our organization.”

As a General Officer, Blomquist is no longer authorized to fly Minnesota National Guard
aircraft, and he already misses flying.

“I was able to retire from flying fighters at the top of my game which is reassuring. My last
flight was instructing our newest fighter pilot in a lot of complex mission tasks. I felt like I still
had more to give, but flying fighters doesn’t get any easier when you’re in your third command
role or at 50! So, as much as I’ll miss it, I look forward to being able to concentrate 100 percent
of my efforts on improving the entire Minnesota Air National Guard,” he said.

Story by Air Force Lt. Col. (ret) Audra Flanagan and Mr. Robert Brown
Editor’s Note: Media interested in an interview with Blomquist should contact Minnesota
National Guard’s State Public Affairs Officer, Army Lt. Col. Kristen Augé, at 651-282-4789 or
kristen.l.auge.mil@army.mil. Blomquist is available from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thurs., Oct. 13 at the
Veterans Services Building, 20 W. 12th St., St. Paul, Minn.

About the Minnesota National Guard –
Established in 1856 and headquartered in St. Paul, the Minnesota National Guard has more than
13,000 Soldiers and Airmen who serve in 58 communities across the state. The Citizen-Soldiers
and Airmen of the Minnesota National Guard are ‘Always Ready’ to fight the nation’s wars,
protect the country, respond to state emergencies, and contribute to local communities. For more
information about the Minnesota National Guard, visit https://MinnesotaNationalGuard.ng.mil.
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