Senior Leader Biographies
U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence
Maj. Gen. Kevin W. Mangum
Commanding General, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker
Maj. Gen. Kevin W. Mangum graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in May 1982, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant of armor. Highlights of Mangum's career include tours with 8th Army, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 2nd Infantry Division and 10th Mountain Division and two Joint tours. He has commanded at every level from platoon to senior commander of Fort Drum, N.Y. More
Col. Douglas M. Gabram
Deputy Commander/Assistant Commandant
Col. Douglas M. Gabram received an ROTC commission as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Bowling Green State University, Ohio, in 1984. His command and staff positions include OH-58C cavalry scout platoon leader, and cavalry troop commander in the 5th Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 6th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. He then served as the assistant battalion S-3 in 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas. More
Col. T.J. Jamison
Chief of Staff
Col. T.J. Jamison received his commission from Marion Military Institute in 1985 followed by a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University. Upon completion of the Aviation Officer Basic Course he served as an aero scout platoon leader and detachment commander in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fulda, Germany. Deployments include Operation Provide Comfort and Positive Force. Jamison went on to company command in the 1-229th Attack Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C. followed by an assignment to the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces, Riyadh, as the senior Aviation adviser. More
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. More
Command Sgt. Major James H. Thomson Jr.
Command Sergeant Major of the Aviation Branch
Command Sgt. Maj. James H. Thomson, Jr. joined the United States Army from Portland, Maine as a CH-47 Helicopter Repairman (15U) in May 1987. He attended basic training at Fort Dix, N.J. and advanced individual training at Fort Eustis, Va. More
USAG Fort Rucker
Col. Stuart J. McRae
Garrison Commander, USAG Fort Rucker
Col. Stuart McRae began his military career as a Military Intelligence officer graduating in 1987 as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Montana State University – Billings. His first assignment was in the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Wash., where he served as a platoon leader, battalion maintenance officer, and assistant S3. In 1990, he branch transferred to Aviation and following, attended the Fixed Wing, Multi-Engine Course. More
Justin O. Mitchell
Deputy Garrison Commander, USAG Fort Rucker
Mr. Justin Mitchell arrived at Fort Rucker in August 2009 after graduating from the United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Prior to attending the Senior Service College, Mitchell was the Deputy to the Garrison Commander Schweinfurt, Germany from 2002-2008. More
Command Sgt. Maj. Buford E. Noland
Command Sergeant Major, USAG Fort Rucker
Command Sgt. Maj. Buford E. Noland was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and was raised on several Air Force Bases throughout our country. In 1985 he joined the United States Army and attended One Station Unit Training at Fort McClellan, Ala. Following Noland's Initial Entry Training he served in various overseas and stateside assignments including the 142nd Military Police Company, Yongsan, Korea; 401st MP Company, Fort Hood, Texas; the 570th MP Company, Mannheim, Germany. More
