Chief Warrant Officer Four Gerold Dean Brown

Chief Warrant Officer Four Gerold Dean Brown was born November 19, 1965, in O’Fallon, Illinois.  A 1983 graduate of O’Fallon Township High School, he enlisted in the Army as an enlisted soldier in the MOS of (67U) Medium Helicopter Repairer in September 1983.  He attended Basic Training at Ft. Bliss, Texas, graduating as M-16 Marksman Trainee of the cycle.  He began Advanced Individual Training in November 1983 at Ft. Eustis, Virginia.  His first assignment was A/159th (160th Special Operations Aviation Group) at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky where he performed maintenance and served as a crew chief on CH-47C/CH-47D and MH-47D helicopters.  While assigned to E/160 SOAG(A) he completed the Air Assault, Airborne, Noncommissioned Officer Academy, USAF Water Survival Course, and SERE High-Risk training course.  In June 1988 he left E/160 SOAG(A) for the Army’s Warrant Officer School, Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training, and the CH-47D Qualification Course at Ft. Rucker, Alabama.

Upon completion of Flight Training, CW4 Brown was asked to assess for the 160 SOAR(A) and in 1989 was accepted into B Company, 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia as a MH-47D Pilot.  CW4 Brown was an instrumental player in the development of Non-Rated Crewmember training in the MH-47D aircraft and rose to the position of MH-47D Flight Lead and Instructor Pilot.  While assigned to B Company, he participated in Operation Desert Storm / Desert Shield and ultimately departed B/3/160 SOAR(A) in September 1995. 

CW4 Brown was subsequently assigned to 2nd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky as the Assistant Battalion Standardization Instructor Pilot. While assigned to 2/160 SOAR(A) he completed the Aviation Warrant Officer Advanced Course, Electronic Warfare Course, Rotary Wing Instrument Examiner Course, and the 160th SOAR(A) Basic Officer Qualification Course.  He was subsequently assigned to A/2/160 SOAR(A) as a Platoon Leader for 18 months and regained status as a MH-47E Flight Lead ultimately progressing to the position of Company Standardization Instructor Pilot.  While assigned to A Company, CW4 Brown was an instrumental player in the development of critical special operations tactics, techniques, and procedures and participated in Operations Enduring Freedom and Silent Justice.  CW4 Brown left A/2/160 SOAR(A) in May 2003 to become the 2nd Battalion Standardization Instructor Pilot.  During this assignment CW4 Brown continued to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom conducting combat operations and assisting in the development and implementation of refined desert flying procedures that contributed directly to our aviation success in the Global War on Terror. 

Over the past two and a half decades, CW4 Brown accumulated over 11,500 flight hours as a pilot in 6 different types of rotary wing aircraft, over 6,500 hours accomplished using night vision goggles.  He is personally responsible for training hundreds of soldiers and commanders in aviation tactics, techniques, and procedures.

CW4 Brown’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal (3rd Award), Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Service Star, Southwest Asia Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Saudi Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal-Government of Kuwait, Joint Meritorious Unit Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Valorous Unit Award,  Army Superior Unit Award, 2002 American Legion Valorous Aviator Award, 2004 Nightstalker Aviator of the Year Award, 2018 Army Aviation Hall of Fame inductee, and the Boeing Rescue Award.  He has earned the Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Combat Action Badge, Aircraft Crewman Badge, and the Master Aviator Badge.  He also holds a B. S. in Professional Aeronautics and an Associate in Aviation Safety from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

 He is married to the former Joanna Sinskey of O’Fallon, Illinois and they have two children: Austin Jerold, age 29 and Autumn Sydney, age 28.

CW4 Brown continues to serve the U.S. Army and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky as the MH-47G Instructor Pilot with International Development and Resources, INC.