Hard as it is to believe, it’s already been almost a year since our past president, MG Walt Davis, transferred the controls of AAAA to me last May. A lot has happened since then. Drone warfare, counter-drones, MV-75 Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, (FLRAA), Artificial Intelligence, cyber, reorganization of our Army Aviation formations including the elimination of our Cavalry Squadrons, Syria, Venezuela, Iran and, of course, Ukraine are all shaping our Branch and the Army itself.

What has not changed is AAAA’s commitment to each and every one of you, our members, to make sure we best support you and your families through our leadership, advocacy, and determination. From our charter membership in the 6.5 million member The Military Coalition (TMC) which has achieved a significant recent victory on Veterans benefit sustainment, to sponsoring the Army’s first Drone Warfighter Competition in February at the University of Huntsville’s Drone Range,  the just finished Army Aviation Congressional Caucus meeting sponsored by AAAA in March, and even the  AAAA retired 3- and 4-star non-aviator volunteer advocacy group known as the Senior Executive Associates, held back in March chaired by retired GEN J.D. Thurman, we are working every  day  for you.

Through the four pillars of AAAA that actualize our support; specifically…Networking, Recognition, Voice, and Support, we make sure that AAAA is perceived to be relevant, effective, and truly representative of you and your families.

This Annual Summit encompasses each of those four pillars. The Chief of Staff, GEN Randy George will be helping present the national awards to include, Soldier of the Year, Aviator of the Year, Crew Chief of the Year, Active, and ARNG and USAR Units of the Year as well.  Former Army Aviator and current Under Secretary of the Army, The Honorable Mr. Mike Obadal, will be our second day keynote speaker.

Leading-edge professional development discussions will take place nonstop through our workshops, while “networking” will continue during follow-up conversations in the hallways.

The Hall of Fame inductions on Thursday evening will again be an amazing event with two Medal of Honor recipients among the Class of 2026. And of course, we will wind it all up with the Friday night informal Soldier Appreciation Concert with Dylan Scott.

I could not be prouder to help represent all of you as your AAAA President. I look forward to seeing many of you among our over 10,000 attendees in Nashville.

Above the Best!

MG Wally Golden, U.S. Army Retired
37th President, AAAA
walter.golden@quad-a.org

Story by Pfc. Emerson Sneary

The Georgia Department of Defense (DoD) is assisting the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and other state and local authorities with wildfire suppression in South Georgia.

On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, following Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s declaration of a state of emergency, up to 150 Georgia National Guardsmen were authorized for state active duty. The Georgia DoD has mobilized to support Georgians as part of a whole-of-government response, with GEMA/HS serving as the lead agency.

“This is probably the closest thing that we come to for a real-world mission that is similar to combat in the sense that we have to coordinate with many other agencies,” said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Sean Brigham, Battalion Aviation Survivability Officer for 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, 78th Aviation Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard. “We have to continually talk to multiple players in the airspace while doing our flying and mission jobs.”

The Georgia National Guard has provided three CH-47 Chinook helicopters and five UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters piloted and manned by soldiers of the 78th Aviation Troop Command. Using helicopter water buckets, the helicopter crews are drawing water from reservoirs in Echols and Brantley County, Georgia and are continuing to conduct water drops over affected areas. The Georgia National Guard has dropped approximately 350,000 gallons of water on fires in the area as of the evening of April 26.

“The communication has been superb with the Forestry Service; both Georgia and the National Forestry Service,” said Brigham.

Clay Chatham, the Air Operations Chief with the Georgia Forestry Commission is coordinating the response effort for the Pineland wildfire with the Georgia National Guard at Waycross-Ware County Airport in Waycross, Georgia.

“We have typically done (biennial) training with (the Georgia National Guard) to keep them informed on firefighting tactics and techniques,” said Chatham. “They’ve been a real force multiplier with this fire.”

The Georgia DoD has a long history of partnering with federal, state and local agencies, both here in Georgia and in other states, to ensure the safety and security of our communities, our state and our nation.

In March 2011, the Georgia National Guard conducted wildfire suppression operations in South Georgia near Savannah and Okefenokee, and have supported the South Carolina with wildfire suppression in 2017 and 2025. Today, the Georgia National Guard still responds in force with wisdom of the past and eagerness to apply new skills and technology to serve their communities.

Several local volunteers have noticed the efforts of the personnel on the ground and in the air and have brought water and food to the airport in support of the ongoing effort.

“We know that there’s lots of resources in place from the different groups that are here,” said Wayne Gilmore, the general manager of a business near the airport. “Y’all are here taking care of us, it’s only right for us to help take care of y’all.”

With 15,000 employees, the Ga. DoD is engaged in Wildfire Suppression Operations, while simultaneously supporting operations in five of the six combatant commands.

Story by John Drew Hamilton

FORT RUCKER, Ala.– The headquarters for the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command’s (AMCOM) Aviation Combined Logistics Command (ACLC), building 1116, was officially dedicated in honor of Joseph P. Cribbins, a legendary figure in Army aviation logistics whose career spanned more than four decades.

Cribbins began his military career in 1940 as an enlisted cavalryman and was commissioned in 1942. His service included assignments in the Southwest Pacific during World War II, where he managed intra-theater air transportation for Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters, and later in Korea and Japan.

After retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1966, Cribbins continued as a senior civil servant specializing in aviation logistics. He retired again in 1986 from the dual position of Special Assistant to the U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and the Chief of the Aviation Logistics Office.

His impact was recognized with numerous honors, including two Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Awards, the Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive presented by President Ronald Reagan, and induction into the Army Aviation Association of America Hall of Fame in 1980.

The building that now bears his name is the headquarters for the ACLC, a command with a critical and far-reaching mission. What began as a pilot program in 2002 now delivers essential materiel readiness and logistics support to five key Army installations: Fort Rucker, Fort Huachuca, Fort Benning, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, and Fort Sill.

“While this building may only be 6,800 square feet, its reach and influence is felt far beyond the boundaries of Fort Rucker,” said Robert Doerer, Fort Rucker’s deputy to the commanding general.

Doerer emphasized the importance of the work done at the ACLC.

“This is about so much more than a building,” he said. “The men and women who work inside these walls carry out a mission that Mr. Cribbins would be incredibly proud of.”

According to Doerer, the ACLC “ensures quality aircraft maintenance for the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, providing logistics support and quality oversight across a more than 200,000-hour flying program with over 500 aircraft. They work around the clock making sure our aviation Soldiers fly safe and reliable aircraft.”

Doerer, who met Cribbins earlier in his career, also shared a personal reflection.

“He was a lover of people as well as aviation,” Doerer recalled. “He didn’t talk about himself; he wanted to know about me.”
As Doerer put it, dedicating the building to Cribbins is a fitting tribute, ensuring his name will forever be linked to the people-focused, safety-oriented mission he championed throughout his life.

Story by Capt. Andrew Lightsey IV

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The U.S. Army officially named its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLARAA) the MV-75 Cheyenne II on April 15. The announcement was made during the 2026 Army Aviation Warfighting Summit hosted by the Army Aviation Association of America.

“With the MV-75 we honor a legacy, forged by conflict, proven in battle, originally known to the U.S. Army as some of the most formidable and disciplined adversaries on the battlefield,” said the HON Mike Obadal, 36th Under Secretary of the Army, to a crowd that included members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe. “The relationship evolved through warfare to mutual respect and finally into an unbroken legacy of patriotic service, with members serving in every major American conflict. The United States Army is proud to honor this history and pace the expectations of this warrior spirit on our aviators who operate the MV-75 Cheyenne.”

The designation continues a 79-year tradition, once mandated in Army Regulation 70-28, of Army aircraft be named after Native American tribes. According to the MV-75 Nominee Project Office, Cheyenne was chosen based on the tribes’ historical displays of the aircraft’s key attributes. Officials stated the Army considered more than 500 tribes and solicited feedback from organizations responsible for the aircraft’s development and delivery. While many tribes were researched, the Office found that the aircraft characteristics of speed, range, adaptability, and self-deplorability – mirrored the historical strengths of the Cheyenne tribes.

“The Cheyenne tribes represent a resilient warrior culture and embodies the key attributes of the MV-75,” said the HON Brent Ingraham, Army Acquisition Executive. “I am honored to be part of this historic occasion as we officially name our multi-mission tiltrotor aircraft.”

The Army official designation of MV-75 also symbolizes a new chapter in Aviation. Bell Textron Inc., the helicopters manufacturer, explained the “MV” stands for Multi-Mission Vertical Takeoff while “75” pays homage to the service’s founding in 1775.

The MV-75 Cheyenne II is the Army’s first conventional tilt-rotor aircraft. The aircraft was designed to reach speeds over 300 mph, transport 14 Soldiers, and carry an external load up to 10,000 lbs. While it was crafted for operations in the Indo-Pacific theatre, the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. was chosen as the first unit to field the helicopter, with an expected arrival in 2027.

“To be the first to field the MV-75 Cheyenne II is an honor for the ‘Wings of Destiny’ Brigade,” said Col. Tyler Partridge, commander of the 101st CAB. “Our legacy is built on flying complex air assaults, and this aircraft represents the future of that mission. The speed and range of the MV-75 Cheyenne II will fundamentally change how we conduct air assaults, giving us a decisive advantage and ensuring our ground forces can strike farther and faster than any adversary.”

Story by Maj. Allison Burns

The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command hosted its spring AMCOM 101 Aviation Conference, a two-day event designed to equip Army aviation leaders with the tools and resources needed to enhance unit readiness. Maj. Gen. Lori Robinson, AMCOM commanding general, opened the session with a welcoming address to participants from around the globe, setting a clear tone of partnership and support.

The event provided a comprehensive overview of AMCOM’s role in managing the complete lifecycle of Army aviation. This responsibility includes everything from ensuring helicopters are flight-ready to managing the supply chain for essential repair parts, guaranteeing every system is maintained, supplied and prepared for deployment at a moment’s notice.

Robinson emphasized the importance of trust and collaboration, assuring personnel that the command is fully committed to providing the necessary information and resources for them to succeed in the field.

To deliver this critical information, the event was structured around a series of panels led by a diverse group of subject matter experts who shared their deep knowledge and experience. These sessions covered a range of topics including operational logistics and maintenance support, materiel readiness and aviation information systems.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Paul McNeill, AMCOM aviation branch maintenance officer said, “AMCOM 101 is a critical forum that brings Army aviation together to focus on what matters most: increasing readiness. It provides a unique opportunity for our Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and senior leaders to collaborate, share knowledge and proactively address the current challenges to sustaining the world’s most capable aviation force.”

Acknowledging the dynamic nature of the armed forces, Robinson addressed the ongoing structural shifts within the Army and the aviation community. “There’s a lot of change going on in the Army,” she said. “We want to make sure our civilian workforce is optimally structured here at AMCOM as the Army evolves.”

Reiterating the command’s foremost commitment, she said, “Our number one priority is the safety of our aircraft. We want to get the best tools out there to you.”

In her closing remarks, Robinson spoke on the strategic application of Army resources to best affect readiness rates and invited valuable feedback from the leaders in attendance, reinforcing the command’s collaborative approach to maintaining the nation’s warfighting edge.

The event left attendees with a clear understanding: readiness is a continuous, multifaceted effort, and AMCOM stands as a dedicated partner in that vital mission.

The next AMCOM 101 Aviation Conference is scheduled for fall 2026.

Story by Kelly Morris

Fort Rucker, Ala.–After three days of grueling competition, the Soldiers who rose to the top during the 2026 Aviation Center of Excellence Best Squad Competition were honored in a ceremony at Fort Rucker, Ala., April 2.

The winning squad, 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group, was comprised of Staff Sgt. Derrick O. Alvarez, Cpl. Calvin L Coley III, Spc. Logan B. Kilpatrick, Pfc. Aaron R. Quevedo and Pfc. Ladrew T. Davis.

They competed against three other squads representing 110th Aviation Brigade, 1st Aviation Brigade and Lyster Army Health Clinic, in the annual competition that is designed to test Soldiers’ physical and mental mettle, evaluate basic Soldier tasks and skills, and promote esprit de corps.

Following the chaplain’s invocation and the playing of the National Anthem, ceremony host Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker commanding general, welcomed attendees.

“Every time I hear the National Anthem, and I’m standing at attention, I’m always thinking, somebody wearing the uniform is doing the business of our nation right now. While we might just be in a conference room today, there’s somebody in the woods doing what you were doing earlier this week, somebody is carrying a litter, somebody’s rucking, somebody’s flying, somebody’s fixing something. Somewhere right now in the world there’s an Army aviator, one of our MOS’s, somebody doing the tasks that we train them to do in a live environment,” said Gill.

By show of hands, many competitors took their first flight in an Army aviation aircraft during the competition, when they strapped into a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for transport to their ruck march location on Day 1.

“That’s the least we can do to sort of fire you up for the task of taking on this competition,” Gill said.

Gill commended the competitors who, with little sleep, went “all out, sacrificing their wellbeing, just getting after it all week long.”

“I just want to tell you how proud I am of all of you for doing this, and for your leadership for setting them up for success,” Gill said.

“It’s so important to me that we’re training folks and demonstrating our warrior ethos and our warrior tasks through what you guys just did this week. You just went out there and did it, demonstrating your proficiency, and the training that you’ve done since you joined the Army,” Gill said.

Gill said he is proud of the culture at AVCOE and the tenant units.

“What you’re doing right now sets the foundation for what you’re going to go do when you get to your next assignment,” he said. “There’s probably a future sergeant major of the branch, potentially of the Army, sitting right here.”

Three days of back-to-back squad-based events included the Expert Physical Fitness Assessment, obstacle course, day and night land navigation, Leaders Reaction Course, tactical combat casualty event, a CBRN event, grenade range, weapons qualification, weapons familiarization/disassembly, six-mile foot march, a six-mile ruck march carrying a 150 lb. litter, radio communication test and two bivouac nights.

The squads also appeared before a board of senior leaders for inspection and a verbal test of their knowledge, and they completed a U.S. Army Aviation Museum and Training Support Facility tour and test of their knowledge of aviation history.

The Soldiers pointed to different events as the most challenging part of the competition. While some said it was the ruck march, others said it was the challenge of quickly coming together as a team, or the fact that the obstacle course immediately followed the physical fitness test.

Kilpatrick, who serves as a 91C Utilities Equipment Repairer with the 164th TAOG, said the hardest event for him was the second six-mile ruck march.

“The ruck with the extra sandbags was the hardest. Other than that, it was more getting the team to do it, but we got it done. We all made it through. We started with five and we ended with five,” Kilpatrick said.

The part he felt he excelled at the most was the weapons portion.

“Just disassemble, reassemble and function check,” he said, of four different weapons. “At my last unit, my NCO was a 91F (small arms/towed artillery repairer) and that’s all they do is weapons, so I had to learn, and I taught him my job too.”

Now with almost four years of service under his belt, he said he joined the Army for a fresh career because he didn’t want to go back to school. Prior to the competition he knew only two of his teammates who are in the same company with him. “Working with other people is always fun,” he said.

The winners received a Best Squad commemorative medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and tokens of appreciation.

Following the ceremony, the competitors were treated to a brunch at The Landing with sergeants major.

As we approach the 2026 AAAA Warfighter Summit next month and the halfway point of my tenure as your President, I am reflecting on three amazing organizations that protect our legacy and invest in our future. I know that at times I have taken them for granted.

Two of the three you know very well. They are the US Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, AL, and the AAAA Scholarship Foundation.

Founded in 1956, the Museum preserves our legacy through education and displays and hosts over 100,000 visitors each year. The AAAA Scholarship Foundation Inc. was founded in 1963 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt entity and provides financial assistance to our AAAA members and families for college-level degrees. The SFI has awarded over $11 million to nearly 7,000 applicants over the years.

The newest member of our team, the Trade School, Licensing, and Certification Foundation (TLC) was established just five short years ago. TLC is also a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charity. The difference is that the TLC financially supports our AAAA members and their families who are not attending college but are pursuing careers in the trades, licensing, and certification fields.

AAAA TLC has provided financial assistance through free grants to dozens of our members and family members. When I looked at some of the recipients, I was amazed at the breath of these grants. Some examples are recipients like Luke Vesci (Master Pipe Fitter/Welder), Lucas Robinson (Welder), and both Paige Bradford, and Tanner Judd who needed Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) to pursue their future business aspirations. Not surprisingly, we have also had several individuals who needed an Airframe and Powerplant License, including Nickolas Gutowsky, Ashadu Katende, and Austin Hostetter as well.

Cadet Tanner Judd applied for and received a TLC Foundation Grant, which provided him with the means to obtain his Commercial Driver’s License, an essential step toward fulfilling his financial obligations while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

There were also a number of others that caught my attention. How about Cornelius Allen becoming a Professional Brass Instrument Repair Technician, Alexis Girvin realizing her dream of becoming a Licensed Esthetician, or Kaden Douglas earning a Scuba Certification to become a Diving Medical Technician? I have only mentioned a few of the awardees of these financial grants here, but you get the idea of the breadth and depth of this program.

On the other side of the coin, we need our business partners that have skilled workforces to step up and collaborate with us by posting job opportunities on the AAAA Jobs Board. It costs no more than being an AAAA Corporate Member and only takes a moment. Whenever possible, we aim to connect grant awardees with companies that need their skills, possibly even hiring them as apprentices during their certification process. Clearly, we also need your corporate donations to the TLC so we can provide more opportunities for more of our members and their families.

The biggest ask we have is for more applicants. I was surprised when the current President of the AAAA TLC Foundation Inc. expressed his frustration about trying to give more free money away to support the future goals of so many of our AAAA members who could use the financial assistance.

AAAA Chapter Presidents take note: we have over 80 chapters but only 11 (13%) have taken advantage of this outstanding member benefit so far. We can do better than that. Make sure to get the word out to your chapter members and get those applications in! The leading chapter is the Keystone Chapter with four grant recipients, closely followed by the Tennessee Valley Chapter with three grant recipients. Well done.

Let’s all engage on this latest member benefit and support the AAAA TLC Foundation, Inc. See page 39 for an additional article by Dan Curry on how TLC can help you and your family reach your goals.

Next subject is the United States Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition. AAAA could not be more proud than to have sponsored this high-energy, three-day event. Held last month in Huntsville, AL, more than 200 elite small, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operators from the Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard components competed before a crowd of more than 800 attendees demonstrating how rapidly drone technology is reshaping the modern battlefield.

I think MG Clair Gill said it best when he noted that our drone operators are not only the best of the best, but that their demonstrated tactics, techniques, and procedures provide best practices we can adopt and proliferate across our warfighting skills. The excellent work accomplished by the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence was nothing short of phenomenal. Their leadership and execution allowed our drone operators to showcase to the world that the Army’s UAS professionals are among the most skilled anywhere, while highlighting the growing importance of unmanned systems across the force. See page 28 for a complete wrap up with photos of this groundbreaking competition.

Events like this underscore why AAAA remains a critical part of Army Aviation’s future. By connecting Soldiers, leaders, industry partners, and innovators, the AAAA helps ensure that emerging technologies move rapidly from concept to capability. Our association provides a forum where ideas are shared, partnerships are formed, and modernization is accelerated. As Army Aviation continues its technological leap forward, AAAA will remain committed to supporting readiness, fostering innovation, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the Army as it shapes the next generation of all our warfighters in the third dimension of ground combat.

Let me close with this, if you haven’t already, please finalize your plans now to attend the Army Aviation Association of America 2026 Army Aviation Warfighting Summit, April 15–17, 2026, in Nashville, TN. This premier gathering is the only event where the entire Army Aviation community—leaders, Soldiers, industry partners, families, and veterans—comes together with a singular focus on the future of Army Aviation. Manned Aviation, AI, Unmanned Systems, Cyber and much more are all part of the solution. Whether you serve in uniform, support from industry, or stand alongside our Soldiers as family members, the Summit is your chance to connect, contribute, and help shape the next chapter of Army Aviation. See you there.

MG Wally Golden, U.S. Army Retired
37th President, AAAA
walter.golden@quad-a.org

Sgt. 1st Class Micah Lillegard, critical care flight paramedic with Detachment 1, Company D, 1st Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, hand signals to the flight team in a Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk during a medical-hoist training exercise at Kettle Moraine State Forest near New Prospect, Wis., March 27, 2026. Training in different locations and terrains prepares aviation crews to effectively respond in unique environments. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alex Soliday)

An AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter crew assigned to the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, in flight during an aviation gunnery exercise on Fort Hood, Texas, March 31, 2026. The aviation gunnery exercise was held to test a new forward arming and refueling system, evaluating its efficiency as part of the 1st Cavalry Division’s Pegasus Charge initiative. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Julian A. Winston)