FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- With a combined 292 years of service, eight Soldiers and three Department of the Army civilians retired during the Fort Rucker Quarterly Retirement Ceremony July 29 at the U.S Army Aviation Museum.
Col. Chad Chasteen, director of operations for the Future of Vertical Lift, Army Futures Command at Redstone Arsenal, hosted the event and was assisted by Command Sgt. Maj. Terrence D. Reyes, 1st Aviation Brigade command sergeant major.
The following are short write-ups on each retiree.
LT. COL. CHRISTIAN M. MARIANI
Mariani, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence G1/G4 director, entered military service in 1990, spending six years as an enlisted Soldier before accepting a Green to Gold scholarship. He commissioned into Army Aviation in 1999. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
He said the highlight of his career was commanding the Spartans of the 1st Battalion, 223rd Aviation Regiment at Fort Rucker.
He and his spouse, Victoria, have two children. They plan to reside in Washington, D.C.
MAJ. JASON A. MANGIARACINA
Mangiaracina, Aviation Platform Requirement and Determination Directorate division chief for Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft and Air Launch Effects, entered military service in 1995 with the Louisiana National Guard as an avionic mechanic. After seven years, he commissioned in 2002. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, New Dawn and Inherent Resolve.
He said the highlights of his career were having the honor to serve as a company commander twice and being awarded the Soldiers Medal for heroism in 2013.
He and his spouse, Meridith, have four children. They plan to reside in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
CW4 BRETT HORNER
Horner, Reconnaissance Team lead, Army Capability Manager Company, B Co., 1-13th Avn. Regt., entered military service in 1997 as a power plan mechanic. In 2006, he was selected to attend Army Warrant Officer Candidate School. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
He said the highlight of his career was being tasked as a security element for TAC HUMINT during his 2004 deployment to Afghanistan.
He and his spouse, Keri, have five children. They plan to reside in Fairview.
CW4 MICHAEL S. MAJ
Maj, officer in charge of the Directorate of Maintenance Oversight Operations at Cairns and Shell Army airfields, entered military service in 1997 as an infantryman. In 2002 he was selected for Army Warrant Officer Flight Training. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
He said the highlight of his career was joining the history of combat warriors that have fought for America and the freedom for which it stands.
He and his spouse, Christina, have five children with one on the way. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
CW4 CARLOS VELEZ
Velez, UH-72 standardization pilot and safety officer with D Co., 1-223rd Avn. Regt., entered military service in 1999 as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. In 2006 he was selected for Army Warrant Officer Flight Training. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
He said the highlight of his career was being an instructor pilot and safety officer in support of Army South in Central America at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras.
He and his spouse, Lireida Rodriguez, have two children. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
CW4 JOSHUA S. MCCURRY
McCurry, director of the Aviation Branch Safety Office, entered military service in 2002 when he attended Army Warrant Officer Flight Training. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
He said the highlight of his career was being selected as the director of the Aviation Branch Safety Office.
He plans to reside in Prattville.
CW3 CANDICE CAUDILL
Caudill, U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College warrant officer intermediate level senior instructor, entered military service in 2001 as a heavy wheeled vehicle mechanic. She was selected for Army Warrant Officer Candidate School in 2012. She served five combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
She said the highlight of her career was being able to bring all of her many Soldiers home from every deployment. She and her spouse, Donald Roach, have one child. They plan to reside in Brundidge.
FIRST SGT. CHARLES F. WHITE
White, first sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Co., USAWOCC, entered military service in 1987 with the Texas National Guard as a radio operator.
He said the highlights of his career include training with the 20th Special Forces Group, the FBI hostage rescue team, training in the United Kingdom, serving as the senior military science instructor at South Dakota State University and serving as the Military Honors Co. NCO in charge at Fort Bliss, Texas.
He and his spouse, Gayla, plan to reside in Enterprise.
DENISE M. AYLESWORTH
After a successful military career, Aylesworth, helicopter instructor pilot with USAACE, entered federal civilian service in 1989 with the 110th Avn. Bde. as an instructor pilot. During her years of federal civilian service, she served in a variety of instructor pilot duty positions as a technical expert in the world of aviation.
She said the highlight of her career was developing lifetime relationships with her colleagues on the flightline and in academics, as well as the many military and civilian colleagues within several different agencies across Fort Rucker.
MARY K. CRADDOCK
Craddock, international military student processing technician with the International Military Student Office at USAACE, began her employment with the Department of Defense in 1983 in Aschaffenburg, Germany, as an information, tours and travel clerk. While in Germany, she also worked with the military police and German polizei.
She said one of the highlights of her career was meeting, in-processing and building lasting relationships with her international military students and families from more than 60 countries.
She and her spouse, Douglas, have three children and five grandchildren. They plan to reside in Abbeville.
RUBEN A. AVILES
After 11 years in the military and nine as a defense contractor, Aviles, international military student processing technician with the IMSO at USAACE, entered federal civilian service in 2006 with USAACE.
He said the highlight of his career was when the Fort Rucker IMSO was named the first Training and Doctrine Command IMSO of the Year in 2017.
He and his spouse, Carmen, plan to reside in Ozark.
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