Colonel Daniel P. Finnegan is the Commander, 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, South Burlington, Vermont. He is responsible for ensuring the Wing is ready to defend, execute combat operations, and sustain follow-on forces. He is entrusted with operation, readiness, training, morale and welfare, installation support and quality of life for 1,000 personnel assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing.

Col Finnegan joined the USAF and the VTANG in 1990 as an Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice. In November of 1995 he was commissioned through the Academy of Military Science. He earned his wings in February of 1996 at Sheppard AFB, TX and began his career in the F-16A specializing in Air Sovereignty Alert and transitioned to the F-16C in 1998. Col Finnegan attended Air to Ground Conversion and Instructor Pilot Training at Tucson ANG Base in 1999 and 2000 respectively, and went on to attend the USAF Fighter Weapons School in 2002. He has deployed to Panama, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Japan, Korea, Iraq twice, and Kuwait. He has served as in multiple operational and command positions within the 135th Fighter Squadron, 158th Maintenance Group, and the 158th Fighter Wing. He is a Command Pilot with over 250 F-35 and 3450 F-16 hours.

Colonel Brian D. Lepine is the Vice Commander, 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, South Burlington, Vermont. As the Vice Commander, he oversees the Fighter Wing Staff, Manpower and Budget Programs for the Wing and assigned organizations within.

Col Lepine began his military service in 1993 as a Ground Radio Technician and served on active duty until 1999. Completing his active duty service, he joined the 206th Combat Communications Squadron in the Alaska Air National Guard. Col Lepine transitioned from the Alaska Air National Guard to the Vermont Army National Guard in September 2001 and received a direct commission in March of 2003. As an Army Officer Col Lepine deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as 2nd Platoon Leader, Company B, 172 MP Battalion. Col Lepine joined the Vermont Air National Guard in 2007 and has served within the 158th Fighter Wing as an Anti-terrorism Officer, Commander of the 158th Communications Flight, 158th Maintenance Operations Officer, and Commander of the 158th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Col Lepine has deployed with the Vermont Air National Guard in support of Pacific Air Force Command’s Theatre Support Package, and Operation Inherent Resolve. Col Lepine graduated Alpha Phi Sigma from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Justice.

Chief Master Sergeant
Jeffrey L. Steadman
Command Chief

Chief Master Sergeant Jeffrey L. Steadman is the Command Chief Master Sergeant, 158th Fighter Wing, South Burlington, Vermont. He is the commander’s key enlisted advocate and advisor on all enlisted matters related to force utilization, mission effectiveness, training, development, and morale for over 1,000 personnel. He ensures the commanders’ directions and policies are carried out and Airmen understand and are dedicated to the unit’s missions. Additionally, he consults with state and national level leaders about the employment and sustainment of F-35 combat operations in support of national defense initiatives.

Chief Steadman enlisted in the Vermont Air National Guard in October 1997 and graduated from Medical Technician School at Sheppard Air Force Base Wichita Falls, Texas in April of 1998. In October 2001 he volunteered for reassignment to the Command Post to support the Wing’s twenty-four-hour alert commitment where he served for five years. In 2006 he was tasked to be the Program Security Manager for the Wing’s Fighter Enhancement Program and served in that role until October 2012 when he was selected as the Quality Assurance Program Manager for the 158th Logistics Readiness Squadron. Since graduating from Materiel Management Apprentice technical training in January 2013, Chief Steadman has served as the as the Customer Support Section Chief, the Materiel Management Flight Chief, the Vehicle Management Flight Chief, before being selected as the Logistics Readiness Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader in 2020. Prior to his current assignment he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Mission Support Group for two years. He has deployed in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, twice for IRAQI FREEDOM, and two Theater Support Packages to Korea and Japan.