Brigadier General (Retired) Don Harvel, United States Air ForceBIOGRAPHYDon was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He left Albuquerque in 1972 to attend the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. After graduation, he was commissioned into the United States Air Force. He was assigned to pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. His first flying assignment was flying C-130 aircraft at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. In April 1982, he was reassigned as an Instructor Pilot flying C-130's with the Air Crew Training and Test Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.In 1985, Don left active duty and joined the Texas Air National Guard as a C-130 pilot. He was also hired by Delta Air Lines and started a twenty-five year "dual career" as an Air National guard pilot and a commercial pilot. His military assignments included Commander of the 181st Airlift Squadron, Commander of the 136th Operations Group, and Commander of the 136th Airlift Wing. He participated in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom andEnduring Freedom. Don was promoted to Brigadier General in 2008 and wasassigned to be the Deputy Commander of the Texas Air National Guard. Duringthat time, he also served as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commanderof Air Force Special Operations. He retired from the military in September of 2010with 34 years of military service.During his career at Delta Air Lines (34 years), Don flew the Boeing 727, 737, 757,767, and 777. He retired from Delta Air Lines in August of 2019. Don and his family reside in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
