REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - After 26 years of military service, an Army aviator retired with distinguished honors during a retirement ceremony July 25 at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
Lt. Col. Gerald Dwyer was recognized with several awards in a room full of his friends, peers and leaders.
Among them are the Legion of Merit, the Army Aviation Association of America Order of Saint Michael-Bronze award, certificate of appreciation from the commander in chief, President Barack Obama, and the certificate of retirement from the chief of staff of the Army, Gen. Raymond Odierno.
Dwyer's wife, Tracy, was recognized for her untiring support of her husband and the Army with a certificate of appreciation from the chief of staff of the Army and the Honorable Order of Our Lady of Loretto award from AAAA.
During his retirement ceremony, Dwyer thanked his family, his wife most of all, for their continued support through his military career.
Col. Thomas Todd, project manager for Utility Helicopters, said to Dwyer, "This is a significant milestone in your life, but it certainly is not the ending."
Todd recognized Dwyer for his passion in Army aviation, his expertise and skill, both as an aviator and Army acquisition leader. Dwyer last served as the Special Project lead for PM Utility Helicopters and headed the divestiture planning for the UH-60A Black Hawk.
Dwyer served in many capacities while in the Army, including as an OH-58 Kiowa Warrior and AH-64A Apache platoon leader and squadron intelligence officer; assisted in the development of the AH-64D Apache Longbow and the OH-58D(I) Kiowa Warrior Force Development Test and Experimentation; commanded the C Company 2/229th Attack Helicopter Regiment; TRADOC Project Officer for Apache Helicopters and HELLFIRE Missiles (Research & Development); commanded A Company 7/158th Aviation (Chinook) at Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Carson, Colo.; became assistant product manager for Cargo Helicopters; S3 Operations Officer; test director and Cargo International Programs and Foreign Military Sales Director for the CH-47F; and assistant product manager for Training Aids, Devices, Simulators and Simulations for the Apache Project Office.
Dwyer was also assigned as the assistant professor of military science where he served as the executive officer at Berkeley, Stanford and Santa Clara University in California.
Dwyer is a graduate of the Command & General Staff College and has a Master of Science in aeronautical technology. Other previous awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Senior Army Aviation Badge, Parachute Badge and Air Assault Badge.