New Hampshire Air National Guard commander killed in hit-and-run near his home

A one-star general who was commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard was killed in a hit-and-run accident near his home on Monday, the state military said.

Brigadier General John “Pogo” Pogorek, 57, of Rochester, New Hampshire, was stopped on the side of the road near his home around 5 p.m. local time on Monday and was securing a load on a trailer attached to his Toyota Tundra when he was struck by a red Toyota Rav4 that drove away after colliding with the Air National Guard commander, local police said in a Facebook post.

“As a result of the collision, Pogorek sustained life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene,” Rochester, New Hampshire, police said in a post. “There was a juvenile passenger in the Toyota Tundra at the time of the crash who did not sustain any injuries as a result of the incident.”

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Pogorek became commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard in June 2022, according to a copy of his service biography. He previously served as commander of the 157th Air Refueling Wing at Pease Air National Guard Base in New Hampshire and before that, commander of the 157th Operations Group at the same base.

“General Pogorek was an exemplary wingman, mentor and friend to many,” Adjutant General David Mikolaities of New Hampshire said in a statement. “He served his state and nation with the utmost professionalism and dedication. He will be greatly missed.”

As local broadcaster NBC Channel 10 reported, police later identified a 2012 Toyota Rav4 as the driver of an 81-year-old. However, no charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon.

Pogorek joined the service in 1989 after graduating from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. During his career, he accumulated more than 6,300 flight hours on the C-130E, HC130P/N, KC-46A, KC-135R, T-1A, T-37 and T-38 aircraft, his biography states.

As commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, he was responsible for more than 1,300 soldiers at Pease Air National Guard Base. Pogorek leaves behind his wife and five children.

“On behalf of the entire state of New Hampshire, I extend my sincere condolences to General Pogorek’s family,” New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement. “General Pogorek served his state, his country and his community with honor. His dedication and contributions to the Granite State will never be forgotten.”

Rochester, New Hampshire, police said in a Facebook post Tuesday that “all aspects of the accident remain under investigation” and that anyone with information can contact the investigator on the case at (603) 330-7128.

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