CARSON CITY -- Longtime Army aviator Lt.
Col. Andrew Wagner’s military career path completed its transition from
rotary-wing aviation to financial and logistics management Jan. 19 when he
succeeded Col. Mary Devine as the U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer for Nevada. Wagner,
46, of Reno, is just the 10th USPFO officer for the Nevada Guard since the
conclusion of World War II.
As USPFO, Wagner oversees nearly $1
billion in federal assets – including property and materiel – in the possession
of the Nevada Army and Air Guard. Wagner will also keep tabs on the roughly
$200 million the Nevada Army and Air Guard receives annually in federal funds
appropriated for payroll and operational expenses. Wagner earned his Master of
Business Administration degree from University of Nevada, Reno, in 2021
Devine succeeded Col. Felix Castagnola in
2018 and she is now Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry’s Chief of Staff.
Wagner’s vacant deputy USPFO position is set to be hired. Wagner is also set to
attain the rank of colonel within a few months.
Wagner transferred from Ohio into the
Nevada Army Guard in 2006. Although he was the deputy USPFO the past year, he
is renowned within the Nevada Army Guard as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter
pilot. Wagner was the executive officer for C Company, 1-168th Aviation during
its deployment to Afghanistan in 2008. C Company medically evacuated 1,027
people during the deployment.
In 2012, Wagner returned to Afghanistan,
this time as the commander of C Company, 1-168th Aviation. Once again the unit
flew hundreds of hours evacuating injured U.S military, allies and civilians
without a serious incident or casualty.
In the interim since his second deployment
to Afghanistan, Wagner worked primarily as the Army Aviation Support Facility
commander in Reno. The facility oversees the daily operations and maintenance
of the state’s six UH-60L Black Hawks and seven CH-47F Chinook helicopters.
Wagner resides in Reno with his wife,
Karen, son, Jake, 16, and daughter Mia, 10.