Photo By Senior Master Sgt. William Gizara | U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the adjutant general, passes the colors of the New...... read more read more
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced first-ever woman to command the New York Air National Guard April 2, 2022 with the change of command welcoming Air Force Brig. Gen. Denise Donnell.
“This is a proud day in New York to recognize the achievements and leadership skills of a woman who has risen through the ranks to serve as a model of selflessness for all New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said in a statement. “The National Guard is made up of New York’s finest and is always there when crisis calls.”
Donnell takes over leadership of the 5,900 Airmen of the New York Air National Guard from Major General Timothy LaBarge, who retires after 39 years of military service, commanding two air wings and leading the New York Air National Guard since 2018.
Donnell will serve on the Joint Force Headquarters staff but is not new to joint service.
She served in the United States Navy from 1993 to 2002 and flew the Navy’s P-3 Orion anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft before her transition to the Air National Guard and flying the Air Force’s C-5A Galaxy, LC-130 Hercules “Skibird” and C-17 Globemaster III.
Donnell is a command pilot with over 4,400 hours of flying time, including 280 hours in combat. She has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels.
Army Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the New York State Adjutant General, welcomed Donnell, acknowledging her command experience and commitment to Airmen and Air Force missions at home and around the world.
“Your experience as a wing commander and leader has prepared you for this position of great trust and responsibility,” Shields said. “I know that you are up to the task, and I am sure you will take the organization to even higher levels.”
Her most recent assignment was commanding the 105th Airlift Wing in Newburgh, N.Y., since 2017.
"I've always said our most valuable resource is our people,” Shields said. “This change of command between Major General Tim LaBarge and Brigadier General Denise Donnell demonstrates our military's ability to smoothly transition leadership from one senior leader to the next. I am so pleased to welcome Brigadier General Donnell to her new role leading the New York Air National Guard."
The New York Air National Guard is the largest state contingent in the 101,000-member Air National Guard nationwide. It spans five flying wings, including the 105th Airlift Wing, 106th Rescue Wing, 107th Attack Wing, 109th Airlift Wing, 174th Attack Wing and the Eastern Air Defense Sector.
“The New York Air National Guard is largest and the most diverse of the 54 Air Guards,” Donnell said after receiving the colors of the New York Air National Guard in her change of command ceremony. “The New York Air Guard is in Space. We’re in Antarctica. We patrol the skies overseas, carry cargo all over the world, rescue those in need, and we protect the American skies east of the Mississippi. And we’re here in New York. The New York Air Guard is in nursing homes, at mass testing, at vaccination sites. We respond to floods, ice and snow. Whether it’s a COVID response or a Kabul evacuation, the New York Air Guard is always ready and we are always there…for our communities, our state, and our nation.”
Of the more than 7,000 men and women of the New York National Guard who served on COVID-19 response duties over the past two years, 1,078 have been Airmen of the New York Air National Guard.
Donnell is a graduate of Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Foreign Service. She is also a graduate of the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, and a Distinguished Graduate with a Master of Science degree in Government Information Leadership from the National Defense University.
“As the largest Air National Guard across the 54 states and territories, the New York Air National Guard brings tremendous capability to bear in our federal or state missions,” LaBarge said. Under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Donnell, our Airmen will continue that trend of excellence and success here at home and around the world.”
“I salute Brigadier General Donnell on this promotion and thank Major General LaBarge for his 39 years of service,” Hochul said.
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 04.04.2022 15:50 |
| Story ID: | 417720 |
| Location: | LATHAM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 302 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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