Al M. Niles Jr. (born 1975) is a United States Army Colonel who is a decorated aviator and served as a wing commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 for Task Force Warfighter.[1]
Al M. Niles, Jr | |
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| Born | 1975 (age 48–49) |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1997–present |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | United States Special Operations Command 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) |
| Battles / wars | Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medals (Three Oak leaf cluster) Order of Saint Maurice |
| Alma mater | Tuskegee University (BS) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (MS Aeronautical Science)(M.S. Aviation Safety) Florida Institute of Technology (M.S. Acquisition Management) |
Career
editNiles received his commission in 1997 through Army ROTC at Tuskegee University where he became an Army aviator. His operational assignments included the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia; Camp Humphreys in Korea; Fort Wainwright in Alaska; and Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.[2] He has operated as an Airspace Command and Control Officer, Flight Operations Officer, and Maintenance Test Pilot for the CH-47D (Chinook). During Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005, he was a Task Force Warfighter commander. He is qualified in the CH-47D Chinook, OH-58 A/C, and TH-67 (Bell 206). He's deployed to combat and operational support details with conventional and special operations troops to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Bahrain, Kosovo, Kuwait, and Qatar.[3]
References
edit- ^ "FACES OF THE FORCE: LT. COL. AL NILES JR". U.S. Army.
- ^ "TRANSFORMING 160TH SPECIAL OPS (AIRBORNE) COMBAT MISSION SIMULATION". Army Aviation Magazine. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Colonel counts Tuskegee Airmen among his mentors". theredstonerocketo. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.