By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
It’s no surprise to those who know Andrew (Drew) Nash that he continues to receive awards and recognition for his leadership. He is just that type of young man who believes in continuing to try to make “everything better.”
Earlier this year, Col Nash was recognized at the Distinguished Alumni program held at Geneseo High School.
He currently is Director of Operations (A3) at the Arkansas National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Camp Robinson, AR. With 23 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Col. Nash coordinates military and emergency response operations for the Arkansas Air National Guard.
Officials at the awards ceremony include, from left, Fort Smith Mayor George McGill, CEO Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce Tim Allen, Col. Andrew Nash, Arkansas Director of Military Affairs Col. (ret.) Rob Ator, and Oklahoma Gas & Electric Community Affairs Manager Eddie Lee Herndon. Contributed Photo
Recently, he was honored by the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce when he was named recipient of the 2024 Jack White Award, which was created as a tribute to Jack White and to acknowledge the impact of leaders in the Fort Smith region.
Since 1990, the award has recognized community and business leaders who have had significant impact on the area. Nash received the award at the Leadership Fort Smith Commencement event at Wyndham Fort Smith.
Jack White was an employee of the Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. in Fort Smith for 35 years, a U.S. Navy veteran, family man, and lifelong learner. He was highly regarded for his service, leadership, reputation and collaboration to make the Fort Smith a better place, according to the Chamber. He died in 1997 at the age of 57. The void he left has since been “filled by the work of other leaders that carry his spirit of servant leadership, hard work, and determination in pushing for progress to get things done to make our region a better place to live,” according to the Chamber.
Col. Nash is a command pilot with more than 2,000 hours in the T-37, T-38, F-16, A-10, and KC-135 aircraft. As an F-16 and A-10 fighter pilot, he has flown and led numerous combat missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Prior to his role at Arkansas Joint Force Headquarters, Nash served as the 33rd Fighter Wing Detachment 1 Commander for the F-16/F-35 Foreign Military Sales Pilot Training Center basing action at Ebbing Air National Guard Base.
Information from the Fort Smith Chamber said, “In this position, he executed United States Air Force basing plans for future placement, maintenance, and operations of 36 fighter jets (F-16 and F-35’s) from five different countries. Col. Nash has also served as the 188th Wing Detachment 1 Commander-Razorback Aerial Bombing Range at Ebbing Air National Guard Base.”
In his current Arkansas Joint force headquarters role, Nash is based at Camp Robinson in central Arkansas and he coordinates and oversees military and domestic emergency response operations involving Arkansas Air National Guard personnel, equipment and installations.
He has been recognized with multiple awards, including five meritorious Service Medals, two Air Medals, NASA Aircraft Operations Top Engineer Award, Distinguished Graduate for both the USAF A-10 and KC-135 flight schools, and Combat Readiness Medal.
Col. Nash is the son of James Nash, Geneseo; and Joanne Conroy, Moline. His step-mom is Judi Nash, Geneseo, and step-dad is Greg Conroy, Moline. Nash was born and raised in Geneseo and after graduating from college in 1998 with an engineering degree; he received his Air Force Officer Commission in 2001 and has held various command positions, including the 33rd Fighter Wing Detachment 1 Commander and the 188th Wing Detachment 1 Commander.
He currently resides in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with his wife Dr. Carrie Crotts Nash; son Adam; step Nate; step-daughter Ashley; son-in-law Nick, and three grandchildren Hallie, Tyler and Parker.
Family members who attended a recent awards ceremony for Col. Andrew Nash include, from left, James Nash, Judi Nash, Ashley Lewellen (Drew’s step-daughter); Col. Nash, Dr. Carrie Nash (Drew’s wife); Nate Hampton (Drew’s stepson). Adam Nash (Drew’s son); and Hallie Lewellen (Drew’s grandchild). Contributed Photo
As a civilian, Col. Nash was employed as a flight test engineer at the NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas. Here he conducted in-flight experiments on NASA’S KC-135A Reduced Gravity Research Aircraft and NASA’s WB-57F High Altitude Research Aircraft. His current civilian employment is as an Airbus 330 First Officer with a major commercial airline. He has pursued extensive education, including completion of Air War College in 2022, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
He also was one of nine Geneseo graduates who were inducted into the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame at ceremonies held Feb. 29 in the DePauw Theater at Geneseo High School.