By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Morgan County resident Dave Belton recently received a commendation from Governor Nathan Deal’s Office.
“This was really a surprise for me,” he shared via e-mail. “I was honored to receive the award, which was really just a culmination of my 23 years of service in the military, both in the Navy and the Air Force Reserves.”

His daughter, Daniela, said that the commendation is in recognition of his military service. He retired from the Air Force Reserves with the rank of major in September 2012.

“It is a great honor to have this from the Governor’s Office,” she shared via e-mail.

Belton said that Daniel Regenstein at the Governor’s Office of Plans and Policies nominated him.
“I knew him from my work on Caleb’s Law two years ago,” he shared.

The commendation stated in part, “Major Belton has notably impacted his community, the State of Georgia, and the United States during his outstanding career in the Armed Forces.”

It includes details of his military service, including the fact that he has flown in five military conflicts both in the Navy and in the Air Force, leading over 100 men and many aircraft.

The commendation went on, “Major Belton is an upstanding citizen who has striven to go above and beyond in fulfilling his civic duty.”

Belton shared that he wears a lot of different hats, “an Air Force officer, a Delta Air Lines pilot, a School Board Member, the vice-chair of the Republican Party, and an author as well as a husband and father.”

His service to others includes representing District 5 on the Morgan County School Board for a second term as well as advocating for local public schools during visits by Burt Jones, newly elected State Senator, and Barton Lowrey, a field representative with U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson.

He has flown to Peru with some of his Delta Air Lines co-workers to volunteer at an orphanage there for the second year in a row.

Also, as Vice Chairman of the Morgan County Republicans he put together a Romney-Ryan Rally last October. He also is a member of the Coverdell Leadership Institute, a Republican leadership program in Georgia.

He authored “The Divine Masquerade” series of children’s books for his daughters with the goal of creating works that are “wholesome and true,” according to his website www.dcbelton.com.

 “It’s obviously nice to be recognized, especially as it marks a phase of my life that is now ending,” he shared. “This commendation marks the end of my first, best career – that of a military pilot – allowing me to take off at least one of those hats.”  

Printed in the February 14, 2013 edition