Policy and Procedures

The United States Army Aviation Hall of Fame (USAAHOF)

Background

As historians began to document the many battles of the Vietnam War, it became known as the “Helicopter War.” From the first significant involvement of the U.S. military in 1961, to the departure of U.S. forces in 1973, battlefield operations became heavily dependent upon Army Aviation and especially the helicopter. Acts of bravery, flying skill and battle leadership became commonplace, but by no means ordinary. The leadership of the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), at the recommendation of COL Ted Crozier, concluded in 1973 that an AAAA-sponsored Army Aviation Hall of Fame should be established to honor those persons who have made an outstanding contribution over an extended period, or a truly exceptional achievement, and to record those individuals and acts for posterity. The United States Army Aviation Hall of Fame (USAAHOF) honors not just flying heroes but all commissioned, warrant and non-commissioned officers and Soldiers, and civilians from government and industry who have contributed to Army Aviation. The Hall of Fame is an actual hall, a sweeping gallery within the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, Alabama, which houses the portraits and citations of our members, graphically demonstrating their invaluable contributions. The Hall of Fame is more than a hall and more than a group of portraits and citations of heroes. It is a living repository of the history of Army Aviation as illustrated by the contributions, the dedication and exploits of representatives of the extraordinary men and women who comprise Army Aviation.

History

In the early years, nominees were selected for a particular period in Army Aviation history such as the Prior to 1942 Period, the 1942-1949 Period, the 1950-1959 Period and the 1960-1969 Period. The same procedures were followed in 1975 and 1976 by the selection committee chaired by COL Rudolph D. Descoteau.

On July 17, 1976, the National Executive Board (NEB) created the USAAHOF Board of Trustees (BOT), with retired GEN Hamilton H. Howze as chairman and abolished the period-centric nomination process. This BOT selected seven individuals to be honored with USAAHOF induction in June 1977 at Fort Rucker, Ala. and decided to use a three-year cycle with induction ceremonies occurring during Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) Annual Meeting every third year. Beginning with the 2007 induction, the USAAHOF Board of Trustees decided that induction would become an annual event to focus more attention on the USAAHOF each year and to make the induction more selective, and the ceremony more concentrated. This encouraged more frequent and higher quality nominations, especially from our current generation of warfighters; allowed for acceptance speeches, which had not been done since 1989; and provided an opportunity for pictures and videos of the inductees.

The selection process also changed significantly in 2007. The voting process now involves the Hall of Fame Trustees, all current United States Army Aviation Hall of Fame Members, Branch Chief, Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch, Command Sergeant Major of the Branch, all AAAA chapter presidents and the members of the National Executive Board.

Retired LTG Robert Williams served as chairman for the 1992 and 1995 inductions, retired MG George W. Putnam, Jr., conducted the 1998 and 2001 inductions, retired MG Benjamin Harrison served as the chairman from 2003 to 2011, retired COL Hal Kushner served as the chairman from 2012 to 2016, and CW5 Randy Jones is the current chairman.

Make up of Board of Trustees and Selection of Chairman of the Board

Constitution of Board of Trustees (BOT) and Selection of Chairman of Board of Trustees:

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is appointed by the President of AAAA and serves at the pleasure of the President. He or she must be a member of the United States Army Aviation Hall of Fame and in good standing.

The Hall of Fame Chairman selects the members of the Board of Trustees. There should be six to ten members of the Board, and each shall be a United States Army Aviation Hall of Fame inductee and in good standing. The members of the HOF Board of Trustees serve at the pleasure of the HOF Chairman.

Hall of Fame Nominations

The United States Army Aviation Hall of Fame (USAAHOF) was established to recognize and honor significant individual heroism or outstanding individual achievement or act(s) in Army Aviation service and/or support over an extended period that significantly contributed to advancement of aviation combat capabilities, individual and unit performance, doctrine, or technological advancements that left an indelible impact on Army Aviation.

Criteria for selection into the United States Army Aviation Hall of Fame are:

1. Retired or prior Active Duty, National Guard, Army Reserve Soldiers, and DoD/DA career civilians who were directly involved in Army Aviation activities (combat and/or non-combat) and made a significant contribution to Army Aviation over an extended period.
2. An individual who has dedicated his or her lifetime in industry, science/technology, activities, technical or doctrinal advancements or has been directly involved in the invention, development, and production of a significant product that enhanced Army Aviation combat capability.
3. Aviation branch personnel who received the ‘Medal of Honor’ for Army aviation related actions will be automatically inducted into the USAAHOF. There are no other automatic inductions.

All candidates must have demonstrated a clear and consistent pattern of excellence covering the period or activity for which they have been nominated.

Documentation 

The United States Army Aviation Hall of Fame Board of Trustees will consider only the following in making its selections:

1. A 250-word summary of the accomplishments of the individual nominee.
2. Up to three additional pages (8.5 x 11) of not less than 10pt. type, to include any/all supporting documentation and endorsements.
3. A biography for the person being nominated.
4. The nomination must include a photograph of the nominee in any size, preferably in color and preferably sent electronically to: [email protected].

Submission

Any person, other than a family member of the individual being nominated, may submit this Nomination Form directly to the United States Army Aviation Hall of Fame Board of Trustees for consideration. No nominations may be submitted, nor endorsed by a member of the BOT. Nominations must be postmarked not later than June 1 of each year in order to be considered for induction during the following year. Nominations may either be submitted electronically to [email protected] or may be mailed to AAAA, ATTN: Chairman, Hall of Fame Board of Trustees; 593 Main Street, Monroe, CT 06468-2806. The receipt of each nomination will be acknowledged by the AAAA. However, nomination materials - to include photographs - cannot be returned.

Submitted HOF nomination packets will be considered for three consecutive HOF cycles. Packets not selected during those three cycles will be retired, unless the packet was included in the top 15 or 40% (whichever is less) of the Order of Merit List, during the third cycle of consideration. The packet will remain in the system, for consideration, as long as it makes the top 15 or 40%.

Packets that have been retired may be resubmitted under three conditions:

1. Resubmitted packets must be authored by a different nominator.
2. The resubmitted packet must incorporate significant new information or act(s) not previously included in the original nomination packet.
3. The HOF Board of Trustees must approve the acceptance of a resubmission.

Boarding

Nominations should be e-mailed to [email protected]. It is preferred that packets be submitted electronically, and in “Word” format, but packets may also be mailed to:

AAAA
ATTN: HOF/Awards Manager
593 Main Street
Monroe, CT 06468-2830

The receipt of each nomination will be acknowledged by the AAAA. However, all nominations material, to include photographs, cannot be returned. 

Selection Process

Copies of all nominations are reviewed, individually, by the Board of Trustees (BOT). Each nomination is rated numerically from one (1) to ten (10), with ten being the highest, by the BOT member. The ratings are combined, by the Quad-A staff, to create an Order of Merit List (OML). The BOT then meets, either in person or by conference call, and reviews this cumulative Order of Merit List, and confirms either the top rated 15 nominees, or the top 40%, whichever is less. A comments box is provided for those records scoring a one (1) to provide feedback on why the individual should not be selected. The top 15 (or 40%) are then sent to the AAAA National Executive Board (NEB), Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, all current United States Army Aviation Hall of Fame members, and the AAAA Chapter Presidents, and they rate the nominations numerically from one (1) to ten (10), with 10 being the highest. A comments box will be added for those records scoring a one to provide feedback on why the individual should not be selected. The Aviation Branch Chief, the Branch Chief Warrant Officer, and the Branch Command Sergeant Major are also invited to rate the packets. All results are compiled by the AAAA Staff to create a final OML. The Hall of Fame Board of Trustees meet, once again, to confirm the top three nominees plus one alternate as determined by overall voting result. The military records of the top three are reviewed by the Branch Historian at Fort Rucker and, if found to be accurate, are selected for induction. The alternate is used if the historian’s review discloses information that would disqualify one of the top three. The three packets will be forwarded to the Aviation Branch Chief for review and to provide concurrence of the recommended nominees.

Wear Guidance for the Hall of Fame Medal

Inductees shall receive the Hall of Fame Medallion, a Certificate, and a Lapel Pin. The Lapel Pin may be worn with civilian attire at any time.

1. For uniformed personnel, the Medallion should be worn in accordance with applicable military regulations.
2. For civilian personnel, the Medallion should be worn during formal wear occasions: Gentlemen should wear the medallion around the neck, with the ribbon over the shirt collar and the medallion resting on the external of the coat and visible. Whether worn with a bow tie or four-in-hand necktie, the medallion should hang at the full length of the ribbon. When the four-in-hand necktie is worn, the medallion should hang over the tie. Ladies should wear the medallion around the neck with the medallion hanging at the full length of the ribbon.

Notification and Induction

With the assistance of the AAAA National Office, the United States Army Aviation Hall of Fame Chairman will notify the individuals who have been selected for induction into the Hall of Fame. Notification letters are Federal Expressed to the address on file for each selected inductee. Notification letters will also be forwarded to the individuals who submitted the nominations for the selected inductees.

Inductions into the United States Army Aviation Hall of Fame occur each year in coordination with the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) Annual Meeting. The Hall of Fame Chairman and the Army Aviation Branch Chief co-present the HOF medallions with the assistance of existing AAHOF members.

All expenses related to the event itself, including Inductee travel, housing, event registration and tickets, as well as all production costs for the Induction ceremony are paid for by the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA). In addition, all costs related to the actual Hall of Fame, located in the Army Aviation Museum, to include portraits, citations, lighting, etc. are borne by the AAAA.

We encourage the Army Aviation enterprise, AAAA and local chapters to work together with Hall of Fame members to share their experiences when able for the betterment of the Army Aviation Community and USAAHOF.