Click here to download

"Texans Serving Texas"

 

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:

Texas Air National Guard promotes first female two-star general

AUSTIN, Texas (December 14, 2018) – The Adjutant General of Texas, Maj. Gen. John F. Nichols, is pleased to announce the promotion of Texas Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Dawn M. Ferrell, Deputy Adjutant General-Air, to the rank of major general.
 
In January 2016, Ferrell became the first female in the Texas Air National Guard to be promoted to brigadier general. During her promotion ceremony at Camp Mabry, Ferrell thanked her family, friends and colleagues for their continued support throughout her career. She continues to make history, now as the first two-star general in the Texas Air National Guard.

“My heart swells when I look out at the audience and see so many people who mean a great deal to my life: my family, my friends and my colleagues, both those I serve with today and those I’ve served with throughout my career,” said Ferrell. “I am proud to be a member of the Texas Military Department and am grateful to the military members and civilians who help our organization thrive.”

Ferrell’s parents and close friend pinned on the new rank while Maj. Gen. Nichols administered the Oath of Office. 

Ferrell began her military career in August 1983 as an air cargo specialist in the TXANG. She later commissioned through the Air National Guard’s Academy of Military Science in February 1994 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. 

In her most recent assignment, she commanded the 136th Mission Support Group at the 136th Airlift Wing, leading the Civil Engineer Squadron, Security Forces Squadron, Logistics Readiness Squadron, Force Support Squadron, Communications Flight and a contracting element.

She deployed as the aerial port commander for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita relief efforts at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Belle Chase in New Orleans and Ellington Field in Houston, where her team set up a fully functioning aerial port to handle the influx of aircraft delivering troops and supplies to the hurricane devastated areas. Ferrell later deployed to the International Security Assistance Force Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, in a joint NATO assignment as the director of plans and logistics operations, where she was responsible for strategic-level oversight for logistics planning, sustainment, and redeployment of U.S. and NATO forces.

On Nov. 13, 2015, Ferrell was appointed by the governor as the Deputy Adjutant General-Air.  A native Texan, Ferrell graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls and earned her doctorate of philosophy from the University of North Texas in Denton.

-30-

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 Texas Military Department (formerly the Adjutant General's Department), the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG), the Texas State Guard (TXSG).

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