DL, ret. Air Force Brigadier General Donald Davis Harvel

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

DL, ret. Air Force Brigadier General Donald Davis Harvel

Aug. 21, 1954 ~ Sept. 5, 2020

….joined Delta Air Lines 04-11-1986

 

https://www.fhtimes.com/obituaries/don-harvel/article_a7dd02e2-fc2a-11ea-be2c-c7fab3ebc8bc.html

Obituary : Don Harvel, 66, of Fountain Hills passed away on Sept. 5, 2020. Don was born Aug. 21, 1954 in Albuquerque, N.M. Don knew ever since he was a young boy, he wanted to fly planes…and that’s exactly what he did!

 

In 1972 he left Albuquerque to attend the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. After graduation, he received a commission into the Air Force and was assigned to pilot training at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona. His first flying assignment was flying C-130 aircraft at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. In 1982, he was reassigned as an instructor pilot flying C-130s with the Air Crew Training and Test Wing (Air Force Special Operations) at Kirkland Air Force Base, N.M.

 

His military assignments included Commander of the 181st Airlift Squadron, Commander of the 136th Operations Group, and Commander of the 136th Airlift Wing. Don was promoted to Brigadier General in 2008 and was assigned to be the Deputy Commander of the Texas Air National Guard. During this time, he also served as the Assistant to the Commander of Air Force Special Operations. He retired from the Air Force/Air National Guard with the permanent rank of Brigadier General, in 2010. Don completed 34 years of military service that included deployments for Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. He had more than 4,500 hours of C-130 flying experience.

 

In 1985, Don left active duty and joined the Texas Air National Guard. In 1986, he was hired at Delta Air Lines, enjoying his dual careers. During his career at Delta, he flew the Boeing 727, 737, 757, 767, 777 and the MD-88. If planes weren’t enough, in 1993 he met his beautiful wife, Nan, a passenger on his airplane, while he was flying a trip for Delta. Don retired from Delta Air Lines in August 2019, with over 23 years as an experienced captain.

 

In 2010, he was also assigned to be the president of an accident investigation board, which investigated an Osprey crash in Afghanistan. He recently completed a 50-chapter book titled “Rotors in the Sand,” detailing the accident and investigation process, while honoring those soldiers involved in the accident.

 

In his time off from his various careers, volunteer efforts and other hobbies, Don enjoyed taking his ‘53 Corvette to car shows in town, meeting up with friends for a casual beer, or enjoying the Arizona nights by the pool. Don was an avid listener of Chicago, the Beatles and Christmas tunes (yes, year-round) regardless of how often his daughter attempted to update his portfolio of music.

 

Along with Don’s impressive resume, he was the most loving husband, father, son, friend, and leader. He would light up any room he walked into and was known for always having a smile on his face. Don and his family moved to Fountain Hills in 2016 and he would always say that moving here was the best decision he had ever made (besides marrying his wife, Nan, of course). He loved this community, and obviously, the world-famous fountain. He is survived by his father and stepmother in Albuquerque, his wife, three children, three brothers, and many other relatives and friends.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of his three favorite non-profit organizations: (1) E3 IVXP, Inc., a non-profit with a focus on helping end veteran homelessness run by one of Don’s many friends. Donations can be made through the organization’s website: e3-project.com; (2) The Phoenix Children’s Hospital; or, (3) America’s Gold Star Families, a non-profit whose mission is “to provide honor, hope and healing to those grieving any military loss through active duty service in the United States Armed Forces.”

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Video interview : https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=585536335449243 

 

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https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/1/1653.html 

 

Chief of Staff, Texas Air National Guard

 

Brigadier General Donald D. Harvel is the Chief of Staff of the Texas Air National Guard, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas. He serves as the principle advisor to the Commander of the Texas Air National Guard for all Air National Guard issues. In this assignment, he is responsible for assisting in the planning, direction and administration of over 3,100 Air National Guard personnel within the state of Texas. His responsibilities also include recruiting, retention, labor relations, training, employee development, and equal opportunity initiatives. General Harvel is also dual-hatted as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command.

 

General Harvel was commissioned in 1976 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona and was assigned to the 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. In April 1982, he was reassigned as an Instructor Pilot with the 1550th Aircrew Training and Text Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. While on active duty he served as an Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot, Chief of Flying Safety, Chief of Training, and the Chief of Current Operations. He joined the 136th Airlift Wing, Texas Air National Guard, Hensley Field, Texas in December 1985. His assignments have included Command of the 181st Airlift Squadron, 136th Airlift Wing Operations Group, 136th Airlift Wing Vice Commander and 136th Airlift Wing Commander. He was appointed to his current position in February 2006.

 

 

EDUCATION:

1976 United States Military Academy, Bachelor of Science, Political Science, West Point, New York

1980 United States Air Force Safety Investigation School, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico

1999 Air War College, by correspondence

2004 Safety/Accident Investigation Board President Course, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico

2006 Joint Task Force Commander Course, United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado

2006 Senior Reserve Component Officer Course, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. July 1976 - July 1977, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 82nd Student Squadron, Williams Air Force Base, Arizona

2. August 1977 - January 1978, Student, C-130 Basic and Tactical Pilot Training, 314th Tactical Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas

3. January 1978 - April 1982, Pilot/Flying Safety Officer, C-130, 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas

4. April 1982 - June 1984, Instructor Pilot/Chief of Current Operations, HC-130, 155oth aircrew training and Test Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico

5. June 1984 - January 1986, Inactive Ready Reserves, Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, Colorado

6. January 1986 - July 1997, Pilot/ Chief of Tactics, C-130, 136th Tactical Airlift wing, Dallas Naval Air Station, Texas

7. July 1997 - February 2001, Commander, 181st Airlift Squadron, 136th Airlift Wing, Dallas Naval Air Station, Texas

8. February 2001 - July 2004, Commander, 181st Operations Group, 136th Airlift Wing, Carswell Field, Texas

9. July 2004 - February 2005, Vice Commander, 136th Airlift Wing, Carswell Field, Texas

10. February 2005 - February 2006, Commander, 136th Airlift Wing, Carswell Field, Texas

11. February 2006 - Present, Chief of Staff, Texas Air National Guard, Austin, Texas

 

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot

Flight Hours: More than 4,000

Aircraft Flown: OH-58, T-37, T-38, C-130

Pilot wings from: Williams Air Force Base, Arizona

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit

Meritorious Service Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal

Army Commendation Medal

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

Combat Readiness Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

National Defense Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)

Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour

Air Force Longevity Service (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Bronze Hourglass and M Device)

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Star)

Air Force Training Ribbon

Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait

Texas Lone Star Distinguished Service Award (with 1 Device)

Texas Adjutant General's Individual Award (with 2 Devices)

Texas Federal Service Medal (with 1 Device)

Texas Faithful Service Medal (with 2 Devices)

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS:

United States Air Force Academy Admissions Liaison Officer

National Guard Association of the United States

National Guard Association of Texas - Life Member

The Air Force Association

Airlift /Tanker Association

Airline Pilots Association

West Point Society of Georgia

Military Officers Association of America

 

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

General Harvel is a Captain for Delta Airlines. He has held positions as an Instructor Pilot and Federal Aviation Administration certified line check airman. He is currently flying the Boeing 777, but has over 11,000 flying hours in the B-727, MD-88, B-737, B-757, B-767, and B-777. He also facilitates Delta's “In Command” course. This is a leadership course in decision-making and business course for new Delta Air Lines' Captains.

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 2 June 1976

First Lieutenant 2 June 1978

Captain 2 June 1980

Major 1 September 1989

Lieutenant Colonel 27 September 1996

Colonel 30 March 2001

Brigadier General 8 March 2006

 

(Current as of August 2008)