in september 1947, the air national guard was created, and the positions of chief the army division chief and chief of the air division were established, with the directors subordinate to the ngb chief. in 1953, air national guard director earl t. ricks served as acting chief of the national guard bureau, making him the first air guard officer to hold the chief's position. in the mid-1970s, the chief of the national guard bureau position was upgraded from major general to lieutenant general, and la vern e. weber became the first ngb chief to wear three stars.