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"Texans Serving Texas"

 

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:

Brig. Gen. Thomas Suelzer appointed Texas Military Department Deputy Adjutant General-Air 

 

AUSTIN, Texas (September 7, 2021) – Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Texas Military Department Director of the Joint Staff , Brig. Gen. Thomas G. Suelzer, to serve as the Deputy Adjutant General-Air for the Texas Military Department. Suelzer will succeed Maj. Gen. Dawn Ferrell in the role, who is retiring. As the Deputy Adjutant General-Air, Suelzer will be responsible for coordinating activities of the Texas Air National Guard and assisting the Adjutant General in the day to day operations of the Texas Military Department.

Suelzer joined the Texas Air National Guard in 2007. He has served as Chief of Staff for two joint-missioned Texas National Guard brigades, the 71st Troop Command, and the 136th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, and as the Director of Operations, Headquarters, Texas Air National Guard. Suelzer also served as the Commander of the TXANG 136th Airlift Wing

Suelzer is originally from Keller, Texas, and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1990. Suelzer received his Master of Aeronautical Science Degree in 1997. Suelzer is a Civilian/Military pilot who has more than 8,000 combined flying hours. His flying assignments include: Command Pilot who has flown the T-37, T-38, C-130, and C-5 aircraft, C-5 Aircraft Commander, T-37 Instructor Pilot and Evaluator. During his ten-year active duty service and seven years in the Air Force Reserve, Suelzer served in various operational and staff assignments to include Presidential Airlift Mission Planner, Flight Commander, Operations Group Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, and Deputy Liaison Director for the United States Air Force Academy. During his tenure as a traditional Air National Guardsman, Suelzer was employed as a Pilot for American Airlines.

“Gen. Suelzer exemplifies the values of service and sacrifice, and his record of service to Texas and the United States is impeccable,” said Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris, The Adjutant General of Texas.

Suelzer’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf clusters; Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster; Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal.

The Texas Military Department would like to thank Maj Gen Dawn Ferrell for her more than 30 years of service. Ferrell began her military career in August 1983 as an Air Cargo Specialist in the TXANG. She commissioned in February 1994 through the Air National Guard’s Academy of Military Science and has held various command and staff positions within the TXANG’s 136th Airlift Wing at Hensley and Carswell Fields, both in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris and the Texas Military Department will honor Ferrell’s service at a retirement ceremony later in the month.

 

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The mission of the Texas Military Department (TMD) is to provide the Governor and the President with ready and trained forces in support of the citizens of Texas and State and Federal civil/military authorities at home and abroad.

The Texas Military Department is commanded by the Adjutant General of Texas, the state's senior military official appointed by the governor, and is comprised of the Office of State Administration (formerly the Office of the Executive Director), the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG) and the Texas State Guard (TXSG).

For more information about the Texas Military Department visit our Website at https://tmd.texas.gov.