Brig. Gen. Leah V. Voelker is the commander of the 127th Wing and Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. She is responsible for ensuring combat readiness for more than 1,480 Airmen, eight KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, 21 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and providing installation support to more than 5,000 joint servicemembers and civilian employees within 40 tenant units.
Brig. Gen. Voelker earned her commission from the Academy of Military Science in November 2001. She completed pilot training in July 2003 and has flown both the C-130 Hercules and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft missions. In her 24 years of service in the Michigan Air National Guard, she has commanded at the squadron and group levels and served as executive officer to the Adjutant General, Michigan National Guard. Prior to her current position, the brigadier general was the Deputy Commander of the Michigan Air National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Lansing, Michigan.
Brig. Gen. Voelker is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flight hours in the C-130 and KC-135 aircraft and has flown air mobility, aeromedical evacuation, aerial refueling and combat missions around the world. She has deployed in support of Operations Joint Forge, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel, served as Director of Operations for two expeditionary air refueling squadrons and was Director of Mobility Forces for Exercise Valiant Shield 25.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Engineering Art and Environmental Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2016 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2023 Director of Mobility Forces certification, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2024 Leadership in Homeland Security Program, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 2001 - July 2003, Student, 37th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss.
2. August 2003 - July 2007, C-130 Mission Pilot, 171st Airlift Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
3. August 2007 – June 2009, KC-135 Mission Pilot, 171st Air Refueling Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
4. July 2009 – March 2011, Director of Training, 171st ARS, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
5. April 2011 – March 2012, KC-135 Instructor Pilot, 171st ARS, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
6. April 2012 – March 2014, Chief of Standards and Evaluation, 127th Air Refueling Group, Selfridge ANGB, Michigan
7. April 2014 – March 2018, Director of Operations, 171stt ARS, Selfridge ANGB, Michigan
8. April 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 171st ARS, Selfridge ANGB, Michigan
9. July 2020 – August 2021, Executive Officer to the Adjutant General, Joint Force Headquarters, Lansing, Michigan
10. September 2021 – April 2025, Commander, 127th ARG, Selfridge ANGB, Michigan
11. May 2025 – October 2025, Deputy Commander, Michigan Air National Guard, JFHQ, Lansing, Michigan
12. October 2025 – Present, Commander, 127th Wing and Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,500
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1, C-130E/H, KC-135R/T
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with 3 oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with “V” Device and oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Lifetime member, National Guard Association of the United States
Board of Directors, Leadership Macomb
(Current as of November 2025)