2019 Hall of Fame Inductees
CW4 Robert J. Monette ~ COL Jeffrey Nels Williams ~ LTG Kevin Wayne Mangum
Chief Warrant Officer Four Robert J. Monette, U.S. Army Retired
CW4 (Ret.) Robert J. “Bob“ Monette has made outstanding contributions to the U.S. Army and the Aviation community for nearly five decades. During two combat aviation tours in Vietnam, he flew numerous heroic missions in the UH-1 Huey & AH-1G Cobra. His decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars, 49 Air Medals, one for Valor, three Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry for heroism plus decorations for individual and unit accomplishments.
With 6,000 accident-free and 1,600 combat hours, he always had a steady hand and a cool head. As an aircraft commander he braved a barrage of enemy fire to rescue a downed USAF C-130 crew and another found him supporting his own wingman, shot down by an SA-7, providing suppression until rescued. Engaged by 15 SA-7s, and hit by one, he still recovered safely.
He served as the 8th U.S. Army Standardization Instructor Pilot, the Korean Attack Night Vision Goggle Program Manager, one of the first AH-64 IPs, the first SIP/Test & Acceptance Pilot for the Surrogate Trainer, the first Apache Simulator SIP, and chief of the Aviation Systems Command Test/Acceptance Team. He received the Daedalian Award and was selected as the AAAA Army Aviation Trainer of the Year for 1988. This Master Army Aviator has left an indelible legacy in the attack warfighter community.
Colonel Jeffrey Nels Williams, U.S. Army Retired
COL (Ret.) Jeffrey N. Williams embodies the motto “Above the Best.” He entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1976 and proved a high performer by joining and excelling on the sport parachute team.
Upon graduation in 1980 he set his sights on flight school and aviation. As an aeroscout, assigned to the 503rd Aviation Battalion, Hanau, West Germany, he served as section leader, platoon leader and company flight operations officer.
In 1985, he attended the inaugural Aviation Officer Advanced Course followed by Naval Postgraduate School receiving both a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering and the Degree of Aeronautical Engineer.
His tour at the Johnson Space Center as an operations engineer was closely followed by attendance at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, graduating first in his class. MAJ Williams then served as division chief and lead experimental test pilot for the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior at Edwards Air Force Base before attending the Naval War College.
In 1996, LTC Williams joined the elite ranks of astronauts, remaining on active duty Army until 2007, and since as a civil servant. During his nearly 23 years as an Astronaut, he spent 534 days in space orbiting the earth 8,544 times. He also set lofty standards for days in space, time spent spacewalking and design, assembly, and operation of the International Space Station.
In 1996, LTC Williams joined the elite ranks of astronauts, remaining on active duty Army until 2007, and since as a civil servant. During his nearly 22 years as an Astronaut, he spent 534 days in space orbiting the earth 8,544 times. He also set lofty standards for days in space, time spent spacewalking and constructing the International Space Station.
Lieutenant General Kevin Wayne Mangum, U.S. Army Retired
The son of Army Aviator, COL Bob Mangum, Kevin grew up wanting to be just like his Dad. He graduated from the U.S. Army Military Academy at West Point in 1982 and completed flight training in 1983.
The key event in LTG Mangum’s Army Aviation career was being accepted into Task Force 160…the Night Stalkers… in July 1984.
After later assignment to the 101st Airborne Division, he deployed to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and following graduation from the Army Command and General Staff College in 1993, he rejoined the Night Stalkers where he served another 15 years culminating in him becoming the 160th Regimental Commander in 2005.
Thirty-eight days after 9/11, Kevin was the Air Mission Commander for the longest helicopter assault in the history of Army Aviation – 13 hours into Afghanistan. From the USS Kitty Hawk, Kevin commanded twelve helicopters, into enemy territory under zero illumination, into some of the harshest terrain in the world.
His leadership of the 160th led to significant special operations aviation modernization efforts including fielding the MH-47G Chinook, preparing to field the MH-60M Black Hawk, and establishing the 160th’s Fourth Battalion. In 2010 and 2011, Kevin helped create the U.S. Army Special Operation Aviation Command and became its first Commanding General.
Promoted to Major General he became Army Aviation Branch Chief in 2012. The architect of a major reorganization of Army Aviation, he helped propel it to new standards of excellence.
In 2015, he was asked by the Chief of Staff of the Army to lead the Holistic Army Aviation Task Force (HAATF) which will shape the future of Army Aviation for decades to come. He retired in 2017 after 35 years of service as a model warrior, quiet professional, and Army Aviator… just like his Dad.
Hall of Fame History