Sergeant Major Jason N. McDowell enlisted in the US Army immediately after graduation in 1996 as an Infantryman. Assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC and the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea serving as a rifleman, Radio Telephone Operator, Automatic Rifleman and a Team Leader while on Active Duty. In November 2000, Sergeant McDowell left active duty and joined the Delaware National Guard’s 160th Engineer Company, Middletown, DE. In 2005, Staff Sergeant McDowell’s platoon was deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraq, attached to the 2nd Marine Division in Anbar Province. His unit’s primary role was providing convoy security and performing scouting activities for major supply routes. Upon return from deployment in 2006, Sergeant First Class McDowell became full time with the Delaware National Guard and served in various Readiness and training roles through 2016. In 2017 he served as First Sergeant of the 1049th Transportation Company, Seaford, DE briefly before being promoted to Sergeant Major as the G3 Operations Sergeant Major for the Joint Force Headquarters.

SGM McDowell has received the following awards:

Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Korea Defense Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral “2”, Delaware National Guard Medal, Delaware National Defense Medal, Delaware Medal for Military Merit, Delaware Medal for Service in Aid to Civil Authority, Delaware Governor’s Meritorious Unit Award, California Counterdrug Ribbon, District Of Columbia Aid to Civil Authority Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge, British Army Parachute Badge.

SGM McDowell serves as the Vice Chair of the Veterans Alumni Committee.