SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- SPRINGFIELD, Ohio--Col. Wade Rupper, the outgoing commander of the 251st Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group, retired in February 2020 from the Ohio Air National Guard in Springfield, Ohio after a 36 year long career.
Rupper started his career by enlisting into the Ohio Air National Guard’s 269th Combat Communications Squadron. Later on, Rupper took a commissioning opportunity in the 251st CEIG.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be a part of the oldest mobile communications group and the oldest combat communications squadron in the United States Air Force,” said Rupper.
Throughout his career Rupper has served as a logistics officer, the chief of maintenance, a logistics noncommissioned officer, a communications officer and held numerous leadership roles in the 251st CEIG.
Some highlights of his career were being a part of the Crisis Action Team to mobilize guardsmen for Operation Desert Storm, running the communication cell of the Crisis Action Team at the National Guard Bureau after 9/11, deploying to Al Dhafra Air Base and serving as the expeditionary bomb squadron commander, and overseeing the infrastructure and cable installation at the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) Command and Control Facility.
In retirement, Rupper will be moving on to work for a cyber-security firm that is a contracting company for the Department of Defense. The company provides the DOD with cyber-security software.
“I feel like I’m going to be able to continue to serve our country by aiding in securing our cyberspace infrastructure and networks,” said Rupper. “I am very blessed and fortunate to be able to do this.”
Rupper served his country meritoriously and was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal at his retirement. His more than three decades of service will be missed by his coworkers who relied on him as a knowledgeable resource, mentor, and friend.
“I’ve spent 36 years in Springfield, Ohio at the base,” said Rupper. “It’s the best base in the country with the best people in the world.”