Chief Warrant Officer Five (Ret.) Michael Gwinn’s breadth of Army Aviation experience is truly amazing. In his 43 years of aviation service as a Special Operations Aviator, Troop Commander, fixed and rotary wing standardization instructor pilot, and Army Special Operations contract instructor pilot, he has achieved 12 FAA aircraft type ratings, and flown over 15,000 flight hours, 3,500 with night vision goggles and 2,000 in combat.  

His family has an aviation pedigree. He is the son of Colonel John W. Gwinn, an Air Force Officer who served as a B-25 navigator. His mom, Mrs. Ruth Tolley (Gwinn), was one of the first licensed female aviators in West Virginia, and she taught him how to fly.

CW5 (Ret.) Gwinn entered active duty in February of 1977 and after two years he attended Warrant Officer Candidate and Flight school followed by assignment to the 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, KY.  While in the 2/17th he “challenged” the OH-58 IP course as a WO1 and became an Instructor Pilot.

In December 1982 he was assigned to Company A, Task Force 160 and became one of the founding fathers of Army Aviation Special Operations. He was one of the original authors of TF160 standard operating procedures and many of his light assault helicopter tactics, techniques, and procedures are followed to this day.

In fall of 1993 CW5 (Ret.) Gwinn was forward deployed to Somalia, in support of Task Force Ranger. While flying more than 17 continuous hours, his focus and timely actions throughout the battle of the Black Sea saved many lives.

Throughout his career in Special Operations aviation CW5 (Ret.) Gwinn served in every leadership position possible. He retired from active-duty in March 2007 after 30 years of service, and continued with 13 years as a contract Instructor Pilot.