AUSTIN – The Adjutant General of Texas, Maj. Gen. John F. Nichols, announced the promotion of Texas Air National Guard Col. Dawn M. Ferrell, Deputy Adjutant General-Air, to the rank of Brigadier General.
Ferrell became the first female in the Texas Air National Guard to be promoted to Brigadier General.
A ceremony was held Friday in Texas Capitol's Senate chambers
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“I am honored and humbled to be selected for this role by our governor and look forward to serving the citizens of Texas,” said Ferrell. “I’ve been fortunate to have leaders that saw something in me and have mentored and prepared me for my new role.”
Ferrell’s family pinned on the new rank while Gov. Greg Abbott 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.
Most recently 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.