Governor Kathy Hochul Announces First Female Officer to Head the New York Air National Guard

 

Brigadier General Denise Donnell, a Clifton Park Resident, Assumes Duties After Change-of-Command Ceremony

Major General Timothy LaBarge, a Tupper Lake Resident, Retiring After 39 Years  

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Brigadier General Denise Donnell, a Clifton Park resident, is taking over duties as the commander of the 5,900-member New York Air National Guard, the aerial militia arm of the New York National Guard. Donnell follows Major General Timothy LaBarge, a Tupper Lake resident, who is retiring after commanding two air wings and leading the New York Air National Guard since 2018. The change of command ceremony took place this afternoon at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham.

"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," Governor Hochul 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 Major General Raymond Shields said, "I've always said our most valuable resource is our people. Without our service members, we simply cannot be successful. This change of command between Major General Tim LaBarge and Brigadier General Denise Donnell demonstrates our military's ability to smoothly transition leadership from one senior leader to the next.  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. Thank you for leaving the 5,900 members of the New York Air National Guard in capable hands with Denise."

Brigadier General Denise Donnell, who served in the United States Navy from 1993 to 2002, 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, and 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.

Donnell is a graduate of Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Foreign Service. She 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.  

Major General Timothy LaBarge graduated from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. 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.