MAJOR GENERAL DAWN M. FERRELL
Retired January 31, 2021
Maj. Gen. Dawn M. Ferrell was the Assistant Adjutant General – Air for the Texas National Guard. In this position, she served as the principle advisor to the Adjutant General of Texas for all Air National Guard issues. She was responsible for formulating, developing, and coordinating all programs, policies, and plans for three Wings and more than 3,300 Air National Guard personnel throughout the state of Texas. General Ferrell was Dual Status Commander certified and was a Level III Joint Qualified Officer.
General Ferrell earned an M.A and a B.A from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX and a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. Prior to working full time with the Texas Air National Guard, General Ferrell was the Director of Institutional Research and Planning and the Accreditation Liaison at Vernon College in Wichita Falls, TX, where she was responsible for the college’s quality, planning and assessment processes, ensuring compliance with the standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and overseeing all aspects of administrative research for the college. General Ferrell also served as an adjunct instructor for Vernon College and Wayland Baptist University, teaching political science courses.
EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas
1996 Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling, Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas
2000 Squadron Officer School (SOS), by correspondence
2002 Doctor of Philosophy, University of North Texas
2005 Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), by correspondence
2007 Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century (AFSO21), in residence
2008 Air National Guard Commander Development Course , in residence
2009 Air Force Incident Management Course (AFIM), in residence
2009 Air War College, by correspondence
2010 Joint Task Force Commanders Course (NORTHCOM), in residence
2012 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education (AJPME), in residence
2013 NATO Joint Warfare Center, ISAF HQ Mission Rehearsal Training
2013 Combat Airman Skills Training, in residence
2016 Dual Status Commander Course, NORTHCOM, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2016 Dual Status Commanders Course (NORTHCOM), in residence
2016 George C. Marshall Center, Senior Executive Seminar, in residence
2016 Senior Executive Seminar, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
2016 Senior Leader Orientation Course (SLOC), Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2017 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1994 - June 1994, Transportation Officer, 181st Aerial Port Flight, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. June 1994 - June 1995, Interim Commander/Commander, 181st Aerial Port Flight, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
3. July 1995 - October 1999, Transportation Officer, 136th Aerial Port Squadron, Fort Worth, Texas
4. November 1999 - September 2005, Operations Officer, 136th Aerial Port Squadron, Fort Worth, Texas
5. September 2005 - October 2005, Commander, 136th Aerial Port Squadron; Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita Relief Efforts, Belle Chase Naval Air Station, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Ellington Field, Houston, Texas
6. October 2005 - February 2006, Operations Officer, 136th Aerial Port Squadron, Fort Worth, Texas
7. February 2006 - April 2008, Commander, 136th Aerial Port Squadron, Fort Worth, Texas
8. April 2008 - November 2009, Vice Commander, 136th Mission Support Group, Fort Worth, Texas
9. November 2009 - August 2013, Commander, 136th Mission Support Group, Fort Worth, Texas
10. August 2013 - May 2014, Deployed Director, Plans and Logistics Operations, CJ4, Headquarters International Security Assistance Force, Kabul, Afghanistan
11. May 2014 - November 2015, Commander, 136th Mission Support Group, Fort Worth, Texas
12. November 2015 - January 2021, Assistant Adjutant General, Austin, TX; dual-hatted, November 2017 - October 2019, Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2013 - May 2014, Deployed Director, Plans and Logistics Operations, CJ4, Headquarters International Security Assistance Force, Kabul, Afghanistan as a Colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf clusterr
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Gold Hourglass, "M" Device and Numeral 2
Air Force Training Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster
NATO Medal
Texas Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal
Texas Outstanding Service Medal
Adjutant General's Individual Award with two stars
Texas Faithful Service Medal with silver cactus
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFLIATIONS
National Guard Association of Texas
National Guard Association of the United States Reserve Officers Association
Association of the United States Army
Reserve Officers Association, Life Member
Air Force Association, Life Member
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Feb. 17, 1994
First Lieutenant March 22, 1996
Captain April 18, 1998
Major April 27, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 21, 2006
Colonel March 10, 2010
Brigadier General Nov. 19, 2015
Major General Dec. 4, 2018
(Current as of February 2021)
