Three Texas Aviators Promoted to CW5

Photo By Capt. Dan Tran | CW5 Trenton Lewis has his rank "pinned" on by his daughter during the promotion ceremony at the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade flight facility in Austin, Texas, on Aug 4, 2019.  

AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES

08.04.2019

Story by Capt. Dan Tran 

36th Combat Aviation Brigade (36th ID, TXARNG)

AUSTIN, Texas— Three Pilots from the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade achieved the top warrant officer rank, CW5, on August 4, 2019 at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport flight facility.

The Aviators, Eric Darnauer, Drew Segraves, and Trenton Lewis, were promoted during a ceremony held by the 36th CAB during drill weekend. Between these aviators, there are 14,000 hours of flight time and experience with every modern Army airframe. They each have several deployments and missions and between 20 to 40 years of military service. Their achievements and dedicated service put them in top advisory positions on the staff of the 36th CAB.
In attendance were dignitaries such as BG Burkett and family members of the promoted officers. CW5 Phillips introduced the aviators and their career highlights to the audience. Then the officers were each promoted in turn.
CW5 Darnauer was promoted by his wife, COL (ret.) Darnauer and COL MacGregor. After the promotion, CW5 Darnauer mused that he didn’t realize when he was a lieutenant that his career would peak with “just one step backward.”
CW5 Segraves was promoted by his father CW4 (ret.) Segraves and COL MacGregor. CW5 Segraves spoke of the importance of both his family at home and the family he has at the 36th CAB.
CW5 Lewis was promoted by his daughter and COL MacGregor and afterward he thanked his family and friends for their support.
Following the ceremony, everyone in attendance was treated to cakes and various snacks prepared by the families for this momentous occasion. There are less than two dozen CW5s in the Texas Army National Guard. It is a rare event to even promote one CW5, however arrival of the promotion orders for CW5 Darnauer, CW5 Segraves, and CW5 Lewis were perfectly timed to cause this remarkably rare event in the Army Aviation community and the Texas Army National Guard.

• Date Taken: 08.04.2019
• Date Posted: 09.12.2019 12:17
• Story ID: 340143
• Location: AUSTIN, TX, US