Brig. Gen. Denise Donnell, first woman to lead N.Y. Air Guard

ALBANY | Brig. Gen. Denise Donnell took over duties as commander of the 5,900-member New York Air National Guard. She takes command as Maj. Gen. Timothy LaBarge, of Tupper Lake, retires after leading two air wings and the NY Air National Guard since 2018. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the change of command last week. Brig. Gen. Donnell, of Clifton Park, is the first woman to lead New York's air guard. Brig. Gen. Denise Donnell served in the United States Navy from 1993 to 2002 and is a command pilot with over 4,400 hours of flying time, including 280 hours in combat. She has flown the Navy's P-3 Orion anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft, the Air Force's C-5A Galaxy, LC-130 Hercules "Skibird" and the C-17 Globemaster III. She has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels. As a naval aviator, Donnell served as an evaluator pilot, mission commander, and quality assurance officer assigned to Patrol Squadron 46, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Prior to joining the New York Air National Guard, she served as operational test director assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. A graduate of Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Foreign Service, Donnell 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. "It's a tremendous honor to lead the 5,900 men and women of the New York Air National Guard," Donnell said at the ceremony held at Air National Guard headquarters in Latham. "From COVID to Kabul, New York Airmen serve our state and nation at home and overseas every day. Major General Timothy LaBarge has set a high standard for our Air Guard and I look forward to building on the accomplishments of the last four years." Maj. Gen. LaBarge, a Tupper Lake native, graduated from St. Lawrence University in 1983 and received his Air Force Commission from the Officer Training School in 1984. He served eight years in the active Air Force and joined the New York Air National Guard in 1991. He has served in a number of leadership positions, including command of the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia from 2010 to 2012 and command of the 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh from 2012 to 2016. LaBarge was promoted to Brigadier General in 2016 and promoted to Major General in 2018. As the largest Air National Guard across the 54 states and territories, LaBarge said the New York Air National Guard brings tremendous capability to bear in federal and state missions. "Successfully executing missions like remotely piloted aircraft, space operations, airspace management and air defense of the eastern approaches to continental United States, airlift to the polar regions, strategic airlift, base defense or rescue operations so that others may live, the men and women of our New York Air Guard continue to inspire me," LaBarge said. "These professionals maintained mission effectiveness while achieving 100 percent of their end strength in the face of a global pandemic, and for that I am both impressed and grateful. "Under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Donnell, our Airmen will continue that trend of excellence and success here at home and around the world." Gov. Hochul commended New York's incoming and retiring air defense leadership team. "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," she said. "The National Guard is made up of New York's finest and is always there when crisis calls. I salute Brigadier General Donnell on this promotion and thank Major General LaBarge for his 39 years of service." Adjutant General for the State of New York Maj. Gen. Raymond Shields said the guard's most valuable resource is their people. "I am so pleased to welcome Brigadier General Donnell to her new role leading the New York Air National Guard, while also wishing the very best to Major General LaBarge and his wife Petra as they begin a new chapter in their lives. Tim, you will be missed." NY AIR NATIONAL GUARD MISSION The New York Air National Guard is responsible for a unique range of capabilities: The 105th Airlift Wing, based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, flies the C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter, while the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base outside Schenectady flies the LC-130, the largest ski-equipped airplane in the world and one that supplies Antarctic and Greenland research stations. The 107th Attack Wing at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and the 174th Attack Wing at Hancock Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, fly the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft from control stations at both bases. The 174th Attack Wing also trains MQ-9 pilots, sensor operators, and mechanics for the entire U.S. Air Force. The 106th Rescue Wing at Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach on Long Island provides search and rescue support to deployed forces and stands ready to back up the Coast Guard. The Eastern Air Defense Sector in Rome is part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and is responsible for the defense of the United States East of the Mississippi, overseeing a special air defense district for Washington, D.C. In addition, airmen have provided immense assistance on the ground in response to the pandemic over the past two years. Gov. Hochul said more than 1,000 men and women from the New York Air National Guard served in COVID-19 response, helping to assemble 39.3 million test kits; vaccinating 4.6 million New Yorkers; collecting 1.7 million tests at the state's 14 testing sites; fielding 278,162 calls at state centers; and distributing 54,899,025 meals across the state.

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Brig. Gen. Denise Donnell, first woman to lead N.Y. Air Guard

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