Lt. Col. Denise Donell, a Clifton Park resident, takes command of 109th Airlift Wing maintenance group

Related Media

Lt. Col. Denis Donnell accepts the flag of the 109th Maintenance Group from 109th Airlift Wing Commander Col. Shawn Clouthier during aChange of Command ceremony on Feb. 9.

SCOTIA, NY (02/14/2013)(readMedia)-- New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Denise Donnell, a Clifton Park resident, has assumed command of the 109th Maintenance Group, an element of the 109th Airlift Wing which is based at Stratton Air National Guard Base here.

Donnell is a 19-year veteran of the military, and served in the United States Navy before she joined the New York Air National Guard in 2002. She assumed command during a Feb. 9 ceremony.

Prior to taking over the 109th Maintenance Group she commanded the 105th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 105th Maintenance Squadron at the 105th Airlift Wing based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh. During her tenure in that job the wing transitioned from flying the C-5A Galaxy to the C-17 Globemaster III, a more modern aircraft.

Along with being a qualified Maintenance Officer, Donnell is certified as a command pilot. She served as a P-3C evaluator pilot in the Navy and has flow the C-5A and C-17 as well.

She has been awarded two Meritorious Service Medals and the Air Medal among many other awards.

She and her husband Greg Szczesny and their two children moved to the area from Washingtonville in Orange County.