Brig. Gen. Leah Voelker has taken charge of Selfridge Air National Guard Base just as the Macomb County installation heads into one of its busiest eras in decades. The 127th Wing is gearing up to retire its aging A-10s, bring in F-15EX Eagle II fighters, and eventually stand up KC-46 Pegasus tankers. On top of that, multi-year runway and facility projects are set to reshape how the base looks and sounds for both residents and service members. Voelker has likened her new job to running a small city, juggling combat readiness, big-ticket construction and the day-to-day needs of thousands of people who work and live on and around the base.
Local pilot takes the reins
Voelker assumed command of the 127th Wing and Selfridge Air National Guard Base late last year in a formal change-of-command ceremony. A command pilot with more than 3,500 flight hours, she brings a long Selfridge resume, including leadership roles in air refueling and operations units. According to the 127th Wing, she earned her commission in 2001 and has served in assignments across Michigan and overseas.
New jets, new tanks, new construction
Over the next several years, the wing’s mission will shift as F-15EX Eagle II fighters replace the A-10 fleet, with KC-46 Pegasus tankers slated to arrive in the following decade. Michigan’s April 2025 announcement of the follow-on fighter mission effectively secured Selfridge’s future flying role, according to the Governor's Office. To get ready, base officials say nearly $1 billion in infrastructure upgrades and new construction are planned through 2031 to overhaul hangars, runways and maintenance areas for the incoming aircraft, per the Michigan National Guard.
Economic impact and neighborhood concerns
Selfridge supports about 40 tenant units and provides installation services to more than 5,000 service members, civilians and family members, a presence that local officials say underpins a large share of Macomb County’s economy. The recapitalization effort and new fighter mission are tied to safeguarding thousands of jobs and roughly $850 million in annual regional economic activity, according to the AP. While civic and business leaders have welcomed the long-term commitment to the base, they also caution that construction schedules, stepped-up training flights and added traffic will demand careful coordination with nearby communities, as the Macomb Daily reported.
Voelker's priorities: readiness and people
At her change-of-command ceremony, Voelker told Airmen that the coming year would focus on readiness, “Mission Next” and the team, as the wing tries to keep deployments on track while managing conversion work at home. She has described being in command as kind of like being the mayor of a small city, stressing close partnerships with families, community groups and local officials. Base leaders say those people-first priorities are designed to limit disruption for Airmen and neighbors while still hitting training and maintenance timelines, according to the Michigan National Guard.
What to watch next
This year, planners are lining up site-activation milestones, infrastructure contract solicitations and aircraft-delivery timelines, all of which will dictate how quickly visible changes show up along the flightline. The wing’s public affairs shop and DVIDS have already posted videos and updates from conversion planning sessions and F-15EX visits as Selfridge maps out future maintenance and hangar needs, per DVIDS. For more on Voelker’s leadership and how nearby communities are reacting to the coming F-15EX era, see The Detroit News.
