CW5 Michael L. Reese
Chief Warrant Officer of the Aviation Branch
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Reese is a native of Copperas Cove, Texas, and graduated from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, in 1985. He entered the Army in 1988 and attended Warrant Officer Flight Training followed by the AH-64A aircraft qualification course. Reese’s first duty assignment was with 6-6 Cavalry Attack Battalion from 1989 to 1993 in Fort Hood, Texas, and Illesheim, Germany. He served in numerous positions and attained pilot in command status as a WO1 during the unit’s deployment in northern Iraq for Operation Provide Comfort.
Reese attended the AH-64A Instructor Pilot Course in 1994 and served as an instructor pilot with D Company 1-14th until 1998; during his assignment he attended the Warrant Officer Advanced Course. Following his assignment at Fort Rucker he served a tour in Camp Eagle, Korea, with 1-6 Cavalry as the Squadron Master Gunner.
Reese attended the Instrument Flight Examiner Course in 1999 and then served with 1-4 Attack in Fort Hood from 1999 until 2004. During his assignment he served as the Battalion Standardization Instructor Pilot for over three years including the unit’s deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003-2004. Upon redeployment Reese was assigned to the Directorate of Evaluations and Standardization where he served as an AH-64A/D Standardization Instructor Pilot until 2007.
In 2007 Reese was assigned to 21st Cavalry Brigade for eight months with a follow on assignment to the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division as the Brigade Standardization Pilot where the unit deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2009-2010.
Reese holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, is a Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course graduate, a Master Army Aviator, Air Assault qualified, and has earned the Combat Action Badge. His awards include Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with Numeral III, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, and Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. Reese has accumulated nearly 5000 hours of which 1000 are in combat.
