Aber, 46 Year Veteran Pilot Retiring From U.S. Army Parachute Team

Photo By Donna Dixon | CSM O'Dell presented Allen Aber with the Team Excalibur Sword  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

10.28.2016

Story by Donna Dixon 

U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights

Mr. Aber a native of Hayden, Colorado retired following forty-seven years of combined military and civilian service and 18,800 flight hours as an Army aviator. He was selected as the 2009 Aviator of the Year and set the team record as the longest reigning Team pilot in the history of the team. While serving with the Golden Knights, he spent 10 years on the team as a Warrant Officer and 16 years as a Department of Defense civilian.
Aviation Commander, CPT Benjamin J. Fizzell praised Mr. Aber’s accomplishments, mentorship, exceptional work ethic, and dedication to the team and service to his country.

LTC Carlos A. Ramos presented Mr. Aber with the Commander’s Civilian Service Award and Lapel Button and presented him with the Order of Saint Michael, patron of Aviators and paratroopers. CSM Rodney O’Dell then presented him with the traditional Excalibur Sword, which is a continual reminder that “Once a Knight, always a Knight.”

Mr. Aber presented a dozen red roses and lithograph to his wife Julia, six yellow roses and a lithograph to his daughter-in-law Holly and Golden Knight coins and lithographs to his sons Joel and Stephen and Team Six coins to grandsons Logan and Kaleb.
He said, “This has been a great job, and more so a big family, I thank God and My beautiful wife Julia of 41years.”

Aber attended basic training and flight school (Jan-Dec 1969),continuing to South Vietnam, South Korea, Germany, Ft. Bragg, and Ft. Rucker (Jan 1970-Sep 1990). In these assignments he functioned as an instructor, examiner, and mission pilot in three different rotary wing and five different fixed wing aircraft. From October 1990 through June 2000 he flew for the USAPT as a military pilot and a contract pilot, flying U-21’s, UV-20’s, UV-18’s, and his personal favorite, the C-31. Along the way he achieved the Master Aviator Badge and 18,800 hours of flight time.
Aber's assignment to the U.S. Army Parachute Team culminates his service to the nation from 17 July 2000 to 31 Oct 2016. He served as Pilot in Command (PC), Unit Trainer (UT), Instructor Pilot (IP), Instrument Examiner (IE), and Standardization Pilot (SP) in eight different Army rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, including multiple non-standard types in support of the USAPT training and aerial demonstrations throughout North America.
Aber’s has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering and he has accumulated multiple qualifications on rotary and fixed wing aircraft, spanning over four decades.
Aber's selfless service, expertise and the experience that he passed on to his fellow pilots has immeasurably enhanced the effectiveness of the Aviation Section, U.S. Army Parachute Team and reflect great credit upon himself the U.S. Army Accessions Support Brigade, The Army Marketing and Research Group, The Office of The Assistant Secretary of The Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), and the United States Army.
The entire Golden Knight family will truly miss Mr. Allen Aber. "Thanks for a job well done."
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• Date Taken: 10.28.2016
• Date Posted: 11.09.2016 10:50
• Story ID: 214251
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US