Army Aviation Hall of Fame 2012 Induction - Nashville, TN

Lieutenant General John Mark Curran

Lieutenant General Mark Curran distinguished himself and Army Aviation by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Army, through over 33 years of service as a gifted leader and warrior.

Commanding at all levels, he served as an instructor pilot and branch chief of the Aero Scout Branch, and played a key staff role in the formulation of the Aviation Branch and its inaugural officer basic and advanced courses. While commanding 3rd Bn., 101st Avn. Regt., 101st Abn. Div. during Operation Desert Shield and Storm, the battalion attacked and assisted in the capture of two Iraqi infantry battalions. He later served in leadership positions for Operation Joint Endeavor in Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Operation Joint Guard and Task Force Eagle in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

His leadership and experience were recognized by the Army leadership in his selection as the first Deputy Commanding General-Futures for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Ft. Monroe, Virginia, and director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center. He was responsible for bringing concepts and requirements together into meaningful warfighting strategies for the future of the Army. He oversaw the transformation of the Army’s combat formations into the modular, joint enabled, full spectrum force.  These new formations performed superbly during combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, validating the design work he empowered. 

He also served as the Army Aviation Branch Chief, and commander of the U.S. Army Aviation Center and School at Ft. Rucker, Alabama.  Under his leadership, a dynamic new program was initiated, Flight School XXI, which resulted in aviators graduating flight school with more proficiency in flying tasks and trained to a higher standard.  This was the first effort to modernize flight school since the Vietnam War. His vision and vast aviation experience enabled the transformation of Army Aviation during a time of war.

Throughout his work in changing the Army and Army Aviation, he maintained a focus on Aviation Soldiers and their families.  These changes are his legacy. His leadership and drive for excellence have been documented by numerous awards, decorations, and badges that he earned throughout his distinguished career. His contributions to Army Aviation and its future will shape Army Aviation dominance for decades to come.