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Johnsonville resident Dave Hawley retires from New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs

Hawley served as civilian administrator for the 3,250 member New York Naval Militia

Latham, New York (10/23/2025) — Johnsonville resident David Hawley has retired from the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs after 11 years of service as the Director of the New York Naval Militia.

Hawley received a recognition plaque from Major General Raymond Shields, the adjutant general of New York, during an October 22 ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham.

The Division of Military and Naval Affairs is the state agency which oversees the New York Army and Air National Guard as well as the New York Naval Militia.

Hawley, is a retired Navy Reserve officer who served in the Navy and Navy Reserve for 28 years. He then joined the New York Naval Militia in 2010. He was promoted to the rank of Naval Militia captain in 2014.

As director of the New York Naval Militia, Hawley oversaw the administrative support for the organization's 3,250 members and 11 patrol boats.

The New York Naval Militia is composed of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard reservists who volunteer for state duty as well. About five percent of the force is composed of personnel who volunteer only for Naval Militia duty.

In his remarks Shield's praised Hawley for being a reliable performer who was always thinking ahead.

Hawley said that working for the Naval Militia and the Division of Military and Naval Affairs was the best job he's ever had.

Hawley was commissioned in the Navy in 1982 and served on active duty as a pilot until 1994. He also served as a recruiting officer in Tennessee before returning to sea duty.

During his active Navy service, Hawley supported Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and the evacuation of 20,000 American personnel from Philippines bases following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991.

After transferring to the Navy Reserve, Hawley served as an administrative officer, training officer, command duty officer, operations officer and crisis action team chief for several organizations.

After retiring from the Navy Reserve, Hawley served part-time as the New York Naval Militia as the militia's administration officer. In that role, he orchestrated the mobilization of Naval Militia members to respond to Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy 2012. In 2014 he was assigned as Chief of Staff of the New York Naval Militia.

Hawley holds a master's in biology from the University of Bridgeport.

Prior to going to work for the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, Hawley was the was the executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Rensselaer County

Hawley and his wife, Helene, have a daughter, Sara, married to Chris Hopkins in Troy, New York .

Media Attachments

Johnsville resident Dave Hawley, who is retiring as the civilian administrator for the New York Naval Militia, receives a retirement award from Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, left, and Steve Rowe, the chief of staff for the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, on October 22 at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham. The New York Naval Militia is a 3,250 member state military force made up of members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard reserve who also agree to serve New York State when called upon. Photo by Stephanie Butler.

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