Lieutenant Colonel William M. Powell is a native of Texas. He commissioned through the Platoon Leader’s Course immediately following bachelor’s degree completion at Texas A&M University in May 2004. That same year Lieutenant Colonel Powell reported to The Basic School for instruction with Delta Company 4-04, and subsequently reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination. Following completion of primary flight training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and advanced helicopter training at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Lieutenant Colonel Powell was designated a Naval Aviator in November 2006 for duty as an AH-1W attack pilot.
Lieutenant Colonel Powell reported to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California in December 2006 and completed FRS flight instruction at HMLA/T-303. He was immediately assigned to the Warriors of HMLA-167 and reported for duty in June 2007. His assignments while serving with HMLA-167 include Airframes OIC, Aviation Safety Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, and Tactics Officer. Lieutenant Colonel Powell deployed to Al Asad Air Base while supporting OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM from March 2008 to August 2008 and subsequently redeployed to Al Taqaddum for OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM from January 2009 to August 2009.
Lieutenant Colonel Powell graduated the 2-11 Weapons and Tactics Instructor course. Following WTI completion, he was reassigned within MAG-29 to HMLA-467, MCAS Cherry Point. From May 2011 through April 2013, Lieutenant Colonel Powell served as the HMLA-467 Assistant Operations Officer and Marine Aircraft Group 29 Future Operations Officer, in continued flight leadership and instructor roles.
Lieutenant Colonel Powell reported for duty to Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Officer Assignments, as the Rotary Wing Company Grade Monitor, Quantico, Virginia from April 2013 through March 2015. Following completion of the Tactical Air Control Party course in 2015, Lieutenant Colonel Powell returned to Camp Lejeune, NC to serve as the 2d Marine Raider Battalion Air Officer. While serving in a fire support role with Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) he deployed again to Erbil, Iraq from June 2016 to November 2016 to support OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE.
Upon reassignment to Marine Aircraft Group 29, Lieutenant Colonel Powell served as the HMLA-269 Executive Officer, Personnel Detachment CO, and MAG-29 Executive Officer. Subsequently, Lieutenant Colonel Powell was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Arlington, VA for duty as a fiscal Programming and Budget analyst. He is currently pending completion of an Executive Master of Business degree through the Naval Postgraduate School.
Lieutenant Colonel Powell’s personal awards include the Strike Flight Air Medal with Numeral “4”, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Gold Star in Lieu of 4th award, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Gold Star in Lieu of 2nd award.