He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology and biology from University of New Mexico, a Master of Science in botany and plant ecology from UNM, and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University, with an emphasis in wildlife medicine.

[1] Powell entered politics in 1993 after he was appointed New Mexico commissioner of public lands by Governor Bruce King.

He served as a special assistant to Governor Bruce King with responsibility for environment, natural resources, health, and recreation.

Powell served two terms as a member of the United States Department of Agriculture Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases.

[4] In this capacity he gained significant expertise in understanding the impacts of disease and other pathogens on our human and domestic and wild animal populations.