RENO, Nev. –
In 2023, Nevada Air Guard C-130 pilot Col. Michael Fugett organized an annual golf tournament to raise money for the Northern Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Building on the unit’s tradition of outreach, he worked to formalize a partnership with the NNCCF, aligning the 152nd Operations Group’s annual golf tournament in direct support of the organization. The effort marked a deliberate step toward sustaining long-term support for families facing childhood cancer in Northern Nevada.
At the inaugural tournament, Fugett addressed participants and underscored the importance of community support and backing a good cause here in Northern Nevada.
It would be the last time the colonel could convey such a message. Later that evening, Fugett suffered a heart attack that took his life; survived by his wife, Mindy Fugett, and two young children.
“Michael was a passionate person and loved going out of his way to help his family, friends and even strangers in need,” Mindy said. “He especially loved giving back to the community and would plan his entire year around the golf tournament for the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, since he wholeheartedly loved their purpose and the stories that came from it. He would often mention that he wished he could trade places with these kids to give them a full life, free of sickness and pain, even if it was just for a day."
Today, members of the 152nd Airlift Wing have continued the annual tournament, now known as the Col. Mike Fugett Memorial Golf Tournament, which is set to tee off May 4 at Toiyabe Golf Club in Washoe Valley. Community members and service members are welcome to participate, honor Fugett’s legacy and help the Northern Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. Registration is open until April 24; $175 per person, $600 for foursome. Proceeds from the event have raised more than $14,000 for NNCCF since 2023.
Fugett joined the Nevada Air National Guard in 2012 as an evaluator pilot and chief of standardization and evaluation within the 152nd Operations Group. Over the next decade, he logged more than 4,100 flying hours, including 800 in combat, and led Airmen at multiple levels of command. He commanded the 779th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron during the Nevada Air Guard’s 2018 deployment to southwest Asia and later the 192nd Airlift Squadron in Reno.
When the 152nd Airlift Wing became one of only four military units in the nation equipped to fight wildfires in support of the U.S. Forest Service in 2016, Fugett left a civilian airline career to focus fully on the mission, choosing service to his state.
Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Plunket, retired superintendent of the 152nd Operations Group, said community involvement was a core expectation under Fugett’s leadership.
“One of the pillars of the ops group is giving back to the community and community service,” Plunket said. “Mike Fugett was 100 percent on board with whatever the group wanted to do. He thought it was critical that we give back.”
Following Fugett’s passing, the Nevada Air National Guard continued its support of the foundation in his honor.
That continued support has had a meaningful impact on families served by the organization.
“The National Guard has been a critical part of our families,” said Brigette Cole, CEO of the Northern Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. “They care and go above and beyond for these kids.”
In August 2023, Airmen from the 152nd Airlift Wing did a flyover for Loukas Bilotta, a child from Northern Nevada who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. They gave him a flight suit and made him an honorary member of the High Rollers through the U.S. Air Force Pilot for a Day program.
“It was a really big deal that day,” said Adriene Bilotta, Loukas’ mother. “The Air National Guard brought one to him and flew a C-130 right over our house. They brought him a flight suit and helmet and made him an honorary member of the High Rollers with his call sign ‘Jedi.’”
The operations group’s golf event began as an internal tournament. Under Fugett’s leadership, the group partnered with the foundation to expand its impact.
“One of the last things Mike said to me was that we had to keep this thing going,” Plunket said. “So, the next year, we thought it was fitting to keep this legacy alive and to name the tournament after him and to keep the partnership with the foundation alive.”