In a distinguished career that spanned more than 35 years in the U.S. military, Army Major General Dusty Shultz officially retired from service last weekend in an open air ceremony in Wimberley. Friends, family and military colleagues gathered to mark the milestone.
Following the national anthem and invocation, retired Major General Leslie Purser delivered a moving overview of Shultz’s accomplished career as a senior military leader, renowned for her expertise with Army Cyber, Intelligence and Space operations in the U.S. and Latin America.
Purser’s remarks included a number of lighthearted moments and a little advice. At one point, she handed Shultz a dandelion and advised her to “be as unburdened as a dandelion and go with the wind.”
Following the tribute by Major General Purser, Shultz was presented with the Defense Superior Service Medal, official retirement orders, and certificates of appreciation for her service.
Certificates of Appreciation also went to her husband and family for the many sacrifices they made during her career.
Upon receiving her retirement orders, she put up her hands and said, “Done!”
Shultz also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Army Reserve for her service.
In her remarks to the as- sembled guests Shultz said that the first order of business in her retirement was a trip to Spain with husband David to walk the Santiago de Campostela pilgrimage.
Shultz also thanked her family, colleagues, mentors and students for “challenging her” throughout the long course of her exemplary career.
At the time of her retirement, Shultz retired from her final role as Director of Intelligence at the U.S. Southern Command. She oversaw global operations in Latin America and significantly shaped Army Cyberspace Operations, Electronic Warfare and Information Operations as the Army Director of Strategic Operations, advising the Army’s Chief of Staff.
As a crisis response leader and disaster management expert, Dusty led response efforts during Hurricanes Irma and Maria as Commanding General of the 1st Mission Support Command in Puerto Rico. She is credited with the orchestration of initial operations across multiple strategic areas, where her fluency in Spanish and outstanding collaboration with various services, local government, and the community proved invaluable.
