An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Articles
News | Sept. 28, 2018

Meet Your Guard: SMSgt Jonathan Brownell

158th Fighter Wing

Name: Senior Master Sgt. Jonathan Brownell
Military Specialty: 2S000 Logistics Readiness Superintendent
Years of Service: 27
Unit: 158th Fighter Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron
Hometown: Bellows Falls, Vt.
Current Town: Essex Junction, Vt.
High School/Graduation Year: 1990
College/Graduation: Vermont Technical College 1999 A.S. Electrical Engineering, Champlain College 2011 BS Software Engineering and Champlain College 2018 MS Executive Leadership

Q. Why did you join the Vermont National Guard?
A. I joined the Vermont Army National Guard in Westminster Vermont following in the footsteps of my two older brothers. I later joined the Vermont Air National Guard after the September 11th attacks in 2001.

Q. What do you do in the Vermont National Guard?
A. I am currently the Logistics Readiness Superintendent for the 158th FW.

Q. What do you do for civilian work?
A. I worked at IBM as a Senior IT Consultant for 16 years and joined the 158th FW fulltime in 2015 to assist with the base with its conversion to the F-35 airframe.

Q. What do you think is the greatest benefit of being in the National Guard?
A. In order to live life to the fullest, you must live with passion and serve a cause greater than yourself. I found that being a member of the Guard has afforded me the opportunity to serve my country and my fellow citizens. I am a servant to my neighbors, my family, and my fellow Airmen.

Q. How has being a National Guard member benefited you in your local community and job?
A. The Vermont National Guard has instilled a service before self-attitude that I hold dear to this day. The Guard has consistently challenged me at every turn and pushed me to achieve objectives that I never dreamt possible.

Q. What is your most memorable military moment?
A. The day I graduated from military boot camp at Fort Dix, N.J.. After several weeks of structured education both physical and mental, confidence in myself and my abilities came to life.

Q. How long have you lived in Vermont?
A. I am a graduate of Bellows Falls Union High School in Bellows Falls, VT. I have lived in Vermont my entire adult life, 39 years now.

Q. What is your favorite aspect of living or working where you do?
A. First and foremost I love Vermont. I have traveled to different parts of the county and abroad, but always look forward to coming home. As a squadron superintendent, I enjoy helping other Airmen realize their full potential and the amazing things they can accomplish. Watching our Airmen grow and achieve objectives never before imagined has been the most rewarding thing about my job.


Q. What has surprised you about the Vermont National Guard?
A. Having experienced tremendous loss in my life, the Guard was there to see me through. The sense of family and support was amazing, I never realized the impact the fantastic personnel would have on me.


Q. What is your favorite part about serving in the VT National Guard?
A. Service to the people of this great state is my favorite part of being in the guard. Certainly money is not a driving factor here for me, but knowing that I represent the citizenry of this state is the driving force that keeps me coming back.

Q. How many push-ups did you get on your last physical fitness test?
A. 52

The official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

TAG's State of the Guard - April 2025

The above YouTube video link may not work on all government computers. Read the transcript of MG Gregory Knight's full State of the Guard here.

National Guard News
A Security Forces Airman responds to a simulated attack during a field training exercise at Ft. William Henry Harrison, Helena, Mont., June 2, 2025. Security Forces Squadrons from Arizona and Pennsylvania traveled to the Fort for a week of field training. The field instruction consisted of patrol movements, base security, key leader engagements, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives detection response, and simulated attacks from opposition forces.
Arizona and Pennsylvania Air Guards Train Together in Montana
By Tech. Sgt. Jayson Burns, | June 6, 2025
FORT WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, Mont. – More than 100 security forces Airmen from Arizona and Pennsylvania conducted five days of joint annual training in Helena, Montana, June 2-6.The defenders from the 161st Air Refueling...

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Maritza Garcia, 154th Medical Group Detachment 1 medic and Tactical Combat Casualty Care instructor, evaluates Armed Forces of the Philippines students during a medical field training exercise May 29, 2025, at Camp O’Donnell, Philippines. The training emphasized rapid response and effective medical treatment in high-pressure environments.
Hawaii Guard, Philippine Armed Forces Unite for Medical Exchange
By Tech. Sgt. John Linzmeier, | June 6, 2025
CAMP O’DONNELL, Philippines - Hawaii National Guard medical professionals completed their fourth annual Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) exchange with partners from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Camp...

Service members from the Maine National Guard, Vermont National Guard, Armed Forces of Montenegro, and the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia pose for a group photo before beginning a cyber training exercise during Immediate Response 25 at Golubovci Air Base, Montenegro, June 2, 2025. The cyber exercise was developed and facilitated as a combined effort between the Maine National Guard and the Armed Forces of Montenegro through the State Partnership Program (SPP). The Vermont National Guard and the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, SPP partners since 1993, also participated in the exercise.
Guardsmen, Montenegro, North Macedonia Strengthen Cyber Capabilities at Immediate Response 25
By 2nd Lt. Paige Bodine and David Kennedy, | June 6, 2025
PODGORICA, Montenegro — Nearly three years after a sweeping cyberattack disrupted Montenegro’s government networks, the country has taken a powerful step forward in strengthening its digital defenses by hosting its largest...