Washington Air Guard officer dies during overseas deployment

Washington Air National Guard Lt. Col. Flando Jackson, 45, died Thursday in southwest Asia while on an overseas deployment.

His death was not combat related and is under investigation, according to the Department of Defense.

Jackson was part of the 194th Wing at Camp Murry, which is near Joint Base Lewis McChord. He left in July for a voluntary seven month deployment, according to the Washington National Guard.

His military career of 24 years includes 10 years in the Washington Air National Guard. In civilian life he worked as a community corrections officer for the Washington Department of Corrections for 13 years.

Gov. Jay Inslee released a statement Saturday offering his condolences to Jackson’s family.

“Flando was a dedicated public servant who put his fellow Washingtonians first,” Inslee said. “He spent his career serving others, both as a state employee at the Department of Corrections and a member of our military.”