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HAWKINS FIELD, JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Dane W. Powell, a Madison resident, has retired after nearly 34 years of service in the Mississippi Army National Guard.
Powell’s last assignment was as the state Army aviation officer (SAAO) at Joint Force Headquarters, Mississippi National Guard. In that role, he managed more than 200 full-time military and civilian personnel which support the MSARNG aviation operations throughout the country.
He was honored during a retirement ceremony at Hawkins Field in Jackson, Miss., Oct. 30, 2019.
During the ceremony, he was promoted from colonel to brigadier general and was awarded the Legion of Merit and Mississippi Magnolia Cross Medal in recognition of his many accomplishments.
Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, the adjutant general of Mississippi, praised Powell for his time as the SAAO.
“His aviation skills are incomparable,” said Boyles. “There are officers out there who are just that steady voice in the storm and we have fought through a number of issues in aviation through the years. Dane has always been a steady voice in the storm.”
In his remarks, Powell thanked his extended family for the support given during his career. He also praised the Guardsmen for the missions they accomplished in his 11-year tenure.
“I’ve been fortunate to do a job every day that I love - flying,” said Powell. “One of my favorite memories of the National Guard – almost too many to pick – but I enjoyed training exercises to Japan and South Korea.”
For Powell, retirement is bitter sweet.
“It’s been great to show up every day to work for the last 30-some odd years. I’ve enjoyed aviation, and I’ll miss it,” he said.
Powell received his commission through the University of Southern Mississippi Army Reserve Officer Training Corps in December 1985 and attended flight school shortly afterwards. He has served at every level in various units throughout the MSARNG, including serving as the executive officer of the 185th Theater Aviation Brigade during a 2004 deployment to Iraq.
Powell later commanded the 185th TAB before accepting the position as the SAAO in September 2008.
Powell’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Mississippi Magnolia Cross, the Combat Action Badge, the Army Master Aviator Badge, the Airborne Badge and the Air Assault Badge, among others.
Powell plans to continue his service to Mississippi even after he takes off the uniform.
“I’ve already stepped out in the next chapter of my life flying civilian EMS,” said Powell. “I’ll be working for AirCare for the University of Mississippi Medical Center.”
Powell is ready for his next “assignment”.
“I am looking forward to the new position with the daily ability to help those in a need
of air medical services,” he said. “I will also get to continue flying helicopters, which is something I have a passion to do.”
| Date Taken: | 10.30.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.12.2019 13:17 |
| Story ID: | 350155 |
| Location: | JACKSON, MS, US |
| Hometown: | LONG BEACH, MS, US |
| Hometown: | MADISON, MS, US |
| Web Views: | 156 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Brig. Gen. Dane Powell Retires after 33 Year Career, by Jovi Prevot, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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