Major General Dawn M. Ferrell

Major General Dawn M. Ferrell

General Ferrell began her 37 year military career in 1983 in the Texas Air National Guard. Following her enlisted service in Desert Storm, Maj Gen Ferrell received her commission as an officer in 1994. Over the next 20 years, she held several key positions in the 136th Airlift Wing. In 2005, General Ferrell was assigned as the deployed Aerial Port Commander for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita relief efforts at NAS 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.
Gen. Ferrell served as the 136th Mission Support Group Commander from 2009 to 2015 where she led a 400-member group. From August 2013 to April 2014, Gen. Ferrell deployed to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Headquarters, Kabul, Afghanistan in a joint NATO billet as the Director of Plans and Logistics Operations.
In just 22 years as an Air force officer, she obtained the rank of Brigadier General, outpacing her peers. Governor Abbott appointed Ferrell as TMD’s Deputy Adjutant General for Air in November 2015. In this position, she served as the principal advisor to TAG for all ANG issues and was responsible for the direction of 3,200 TXANG personnel. During her tenure as the DAG-Air from 2015 to 2020, she led the TXANG to play a vital role in the Global War on Terrorism, the Texas Border mission, and the recovery efforts following Hurricane Harvey. She also positioned the TXANG at the forefront of cyber security, fighter aircraft training, airlift, and unmanned aerial systems operations. During Harvey, which was the largest single deployment of Texas Guard forces since World War I, Ferrell oversaw the management of over 150 aircraft and functioned as a key advisor to state leadership.
From 2017 to 2019, while serving as the additional duty ANG Assistant to the Air University President, she provided leadership to the Air Force’s center for professional military education. She also led the TXANG’s efforts in providing robust support to the Air Force’s Austin Innovation hub, enabling the Undergraduate Pilot Next Program to save a projected $400 million per year and resolve a critical pilot shortage.
Prior to working full time with the TXANG, Maj. Gen. Ferrell worked in higher education for 12 years. After earning a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in 2002, Ferrell served as the Director of Institutional Research and Planning and the Accreditation Liaison at Vernon College. In 2005 and 2007, she was named “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” Ferrell was lauded as the 2006 “Outstanding Club President” for Area 12 Toastmasters.
Maj. Gen. Ferrell was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal at her retirement in January 2021 and was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame by the Governor’s Commission for Women. She served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer, an MSU Alumni Association Board Vice President, as the League of Women Voters of Wichita Falls Treasurer, and as a member of the Wichita Falls Parks and Recreation Board.

Texas Air National Guard

2025