Roanoke valley general retires after 36 years

Courtesy Photo | Lt. Gen. Daniel J. Darnell is set to retire, March 1, after 36 years of service.  

HONOLULU, HAWAII, UNITED STATES

02.02.2012

Courtesy Story

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command         

HONOLULU -- Lt. Gen. Daniel J. Darnell, deputy commander, U.S. Pacific Command in Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, will retire, March 1, from the U.S. Air Force after 36 years of distinguished service to his nation.

A 1971 William Byrd High School graduate, Darnell earned a bachelor's degree from the Virginia Military Institute and was valedictorian of his 1975 graduating class. He was a Distinguished Reserve Officers' Training Corps graduate and attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Reese Air Force Base, Texas where he was a distinguished graduate and selected to fly the F-15A.

He is a National War College graduate and commanded multiple organizations from combat units to space operations at the squadron, group, wing and warfare center levels. Darnell is a three-time wing commander; having led the Air Force's largest F-16 Wild Weasel Wing at Shaw AFB, the only F-16 combat wing in southern Europe at Aviano Air Base, and the largest, most diverse training wing in the Air Force at Nellis AFB, Nev.

Darnell served as a Division Chief in the Operations Directorate of the Joint Staff and led Headquarters Air Force Congressional efforts as the Director of Legislative Liaison. The general was commander and leader of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, during the team's conversion to the F-16C in 1992.

A career fighter pilot, the general flew combat missions in Iraq, enforcing no-fly zones during operations Northern and Southern Watch. In 2003, he was the senior director of the Combined Air Operations Center at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, during the opening weeks and months of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a command pilot with more than 4,600 flying hours, primarily in the F-15A/B/C/D and F-16C/D.

Prior to his current assignment, the general served in Headquarters, Air Force, as Chief of Operations and Requirements. His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and an Air Medal with oak leaf cluster.

For interview requests, please contact U.S. Pacific Command Public Affairs by email at [e-mail] or by phone at 808-477-1341

• Date Taken: 02.02.2012
• Date Posted: 02.02.2012 12:07
• Story ID: 83221
• Location: HONOLULU, HAWAII, US