MIDDLE RIVER â Lt. Col. Jeffrey Woolford took over as head of the 175th Medical Group of the Maryland Air National Guard in a change of command ceremony on Saturday, succeeding Col. Hayley Hughes.
Woolford enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1989 as an aircraft mechanic, transferring to the Maryland Air National Guard in 1993 before leaving for medical school in 2004. He was on active duty in England until last year, when he returned to the 175th Wing just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Serving as chief of aerospace medicine for the 175th Wing, Woolford and his team helped ensure the safety of airmen while supporting the stateâs pandemic response. In his new role as medical group commander, he will continue to play a central role in those efforts.