In 1974 he left active duty and spent the next ten years as a consumer-marketing manager with the Hershey Chocolate Company. He joined the Virginia National Guard in 1978, and in 1984 he was recalled to active duty retiring in 1995 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. LTC(R) Powell has seventy-one (71) military decorations including two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, two awards of the Air Medal for Valor, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Bronze Star, three awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and thirty-three (33) Air medals for combat air missions.
After retirement in 1995 he became the National Membership Director for AMVETS until 2002. In 2002 he joined Military Historical Tours and as the President, COO. In 2024 he was selected to be the Executive Director for The American History Project. He also currently serves as the Reunion Chairman and Past President for the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association.