FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- With a combined 223 years of service, eight Soldiers and one civilian employee retired during the Fort Rucker quarterly retirement ceremony April 30 at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.
Col. Chad E. Chasteen, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence chief of staff, served as host for the event and was assisted by Command Sgt. Maj. Luis R. DeJesus Jr., 1st Battalion, 223rd Aviation Regiment command sergeant major.
The following are short write-ups on each retiree.
COL. STEPHEN A. BARNES
Barnes, director of the Medical Evacuation Proponency Directorate, earned his commission in the Medical Service Corps through the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps at Wheaton College, Illinois, in 1991. He served multiple combat tours in support of both operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was being associated with the MedEvac mission to save the wounded while being able to serve alongside a company of heroes in the Dustoff community. He and his wife, Nickie Gael, have five children. They plan to reside in Kansas City.
CW4 MATTHEW J. DECKER
Decker, A Co., 1-14th Avn. Regt. executive officer, entered military service in 2001 and served as a pilot and instructor pilot in the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, AH-64 Apache, UH-72 Lakota and MD-530 Cayuse Warrior. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said that more than the times and events that defined his career, it was the Soldiers, Airmen, Afghans, civilians and family who entrusted him with their commands, their lives and their livelihood who highlighted his career. He will forever be thankful and honored. He and his wife, Rainbeau, have two children. They plan to reside in Idaho.
CW3 TAKIA T. ALLEN
Allen, air traffic and airspace management technician course manager, entered military service in 1998 as an air traffic controller. In 2011 she was selected for Warrant Officer Candidate School and the Air Traffic and Airspace Management Technician Course. She served multiple combat tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She said the highlight of her career was having the opportunity to be a leader and attaining the senior NCO and senior warrant officer ranks. She and her husband, Omar, have three children and two grandchildren. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
FIRST SGT. RENALDO D. EDGE
Edge, 3-17th Cavalry Squadron operations NCO in charge at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, entered military service in 2001 as an aviation operations specialist. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve. He said the highlight of his career was coaching, mentoring, inspiring, captivating and motivating all of those he served with. He plans to reside in Florida.
MASTER SGT. RODOLFO B. JAVIER JR.
Javier, 110th Aviation Brigade senior supply sergeant, entered military service in 2000. He supported operations Spartan Shield in Jordan, Iraqi National Resolution, Iraqi Surge and Iraqi Sovereignty. He said the highlights of his career were being a combat logistics adviser to the Jordanian army in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Chadian armed forces in Chad. He and his wife, Maricel, have three children. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
SGT. 1ST CLASS KRISTY Y. MCINTOSH
McIntosh, 1st Avn. Bde., entered military service in 2001 as a personnel administrative specialist and later reclassified as a supply sergeant. She served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. She said the highlight of her career was having two wonderful children and being a recipient of the Order of St. Martin award. She plans to reside in Phenix City.
SGT. 1ST CLASS MARK T. FLATER
Flater, Directorate of Training and Doctrine air traffic control systems training developer, entered military service in 1998 as an air traffic controller. He served combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his beautiful wife, Misty, and having two wonderful children. They plan to reside in Orlando.
SGT. 1ST CLASS CLIFTON D. WHITE
White, DOTD training developer, entered military service in 2000 as an aircraft powerplant repairer. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his beautiful wife, Adriene, and having three wonderful children. They plan to reside in Huntsville.
JOSEPH D. HARRIS
Harris, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security chief of plans, operations, mobilization and security, entered military service in 1975 and retired from active duty in 2005. He began his civil service career in 2005 as an operations specialist with DPTMS. He said the highlight of his career was being blessed with meeting and serving with so many great Americans from all across the greatest nation in the history of civilization. He has five children and stepchildren, and a “whole bunch” of grandchildren. He plans to reside in Headland.
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