CW5 Keith Granville Harris, USA Retired
Bel Air, Maryland
Keith Granville Harris graduated from Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course (WORWAC) Class 70-33 on 20 October 1970.
My Warrant Officer Branch is Aviation.
My first duty assignment was from December 1970 – December 1971, Helicopter Pilot, Instructor Pilot, D Troop 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, C Troop 3rd Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry Regiment, Vietnam.
My subsequent duty assignments include:
1. January 1976 – September 1978, Pilot, 224th AVN Co (AH) (MDARNG), Bel Air, MD
2. September 1978 – October 1985, Instructor Pilot, Co D 150th AVN BN, Bel Air, MD
3. October 1985 – August 1986, Instructor Pilot, Eastern Army National Guard Training Site, Pennsylvania Army National Guard (PAARNG), Fort Indiantown Gap, PA
4. August 1986 – February 1987, Instructor Pilot, Co C 224th AVN (MDARNG), APG (EA), MD
5. February 1987 – March 1993, Instructor Pilot, TRP B 1/158th CAV (RECON), APG (EA), MD
6. March 1993 – May 1995, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Test Pilot, Instructor Pilot, DET 1, HHT 1/158th CAV, APG (EA), MD
7. May 1995 – August 1996, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Test Pilot, Co F 224th AVN, APG (EA), MD
8. August 1996 – October 2006, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Test Pilot, Tactical Operations Officer, HHC (-Det1&2) AVN BDE, 29th ID (L), APG (EA), MD
9. October 2006 – April 2010, Command Chief Warrant Officer, Joint Forces Headquarters, Baltimore, MD
I am currently retired.
CIVILIAN EDUCATION:
CW5 Harris graduated from Bel Air High School, 100 Heighe Street, Bel Air, MD 21014 on June 16,1967
Harford Community College, 401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, MD 21015 on February 9,1974 with a degree of Associate in Arts
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 193 apprenticeship, 1101 W. Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230 on November 17,1980
Towson State University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252 on January 8,1989 with a degree of Bachelor of Science
MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED:
1970, Primary Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, Fort Wolters, TX
1970, Advanced Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1970, Observation Helicopter (OH)-6A Helicopter Qualification Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1971, OH-6A Instructor Pilot (IP) Course, Vung Tau, VN
1981, Warrant Officer Senior Course, Fort Eustis, VA
1983, OH-6A Instructor Pilot (IP) Course, Eastern ARNG Aviation Training Site (EAATS), Fort Indiantown Gap (FIG), PA
1985, OH-58 Helicopter Qualification Course, EAATS, Fort Indiantown Gap, PA
1985, OH-6 Aeroscout Course, EAATS, Fort Indiantown Gap (FIG), PA
1985, Utility Helicopter (UH)-1 Helicopter Night Vision Goggle (NVG) Course, EAATS, FIG, PA
1985, OH-58 Instructor Pilot Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1986, OH-58 NVG IP Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1986, Army Aviation Safety School, Fort Rucker, AL
1990, Attack Helicopter (AH)-1F Helicopter Qualification Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1990, Naval Deck Landing Qualification Course, USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), Atlantic Ocean
1991, UH-60 Helicopter Qualification Course, Fort Rucker, AL1993 Warrant Officer 1993 Senior Staff Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1994, Aviation Maintenance Officer Course, Fort Eustis, VA
1994, AH-1F Maintenance Test Pilot Course, Fort Eustis, VA
1996, AH-1 Aircrew Coordination Trainers Course, EAATS, Fort Indiantown Gap (FIG), PA
1996, Aircraft Survivability Equipment/Electronic Warfare Officer Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1996, AH-1F Instructor Pilot Course, Western ARNG Aviation Training Site, Marana, AZ
1998, Joint Firepower Control Course, United States Air Force Battlestaff Training School (USAFBTS), Hurlburt Field, FL
1998, Joint Aerospace Command and Control Course, USAFBTS, Hurlburt Field, FL
2001, High Altitude Course, ARNG Army Aviation Training Site, Eagle, CO
2004, UH-60 Maintenance Test Pilot Corse, Fort Rucker, AL
2008, Reserve Components National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Warrant Officer One 19 October 1970
Chief Warrant Officer Two 10 December 1971
Chief Warrant Officer Three 23 February 1978
Chief Warrant Officer Four 21 March 1984
Master Warrant Officer Four 18 June 1993
Chief Warrant Officer Five 21 October 1993
SUMMARY OF OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENTS:
1. December 1970 – December 1971, Helicopter Pilot, D Troop 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment and C Troop 3rd Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry Regiment, Vietnam
2. August 2001 – April 2002, Tactical Operations Officer, HHC 2-224TH Aviation, Task Force Pegasus, SFOR-10, OJF, Bosnia-Herzegovina
MILITARY AWARDS:
Legion Of Merit
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Medal and Air Medal with V Device for Valor
Air Medal (3rd– 29th)
Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with 5 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Good Conduct Medal
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with1 Bronze Stars)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
NATO Medal
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Overseas Service Bars (2)
USA Aviator Badge
USA Senior Aviator Badge
Master Army Aviator Badge
MARYLAND AWARDS:
State of Maryland Distinguished Service Cross
Maryland Meritorious Service Medal
Maryland National Guard Overseas Service Ribbon
Maryland State Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Bottony Devices)
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
1. Helicopter Qualifications: TH-55A, UH-1A/B/C/D/H/M, OH-6A, OH-58A/C,
AH-1E/F, UH-60A/L
2. Helicopter Weapons Qualifications: M3- (2.75 Rocket Launcher), M5- (40-mm Grenade Launcher), M16/21- (7.62 Machine Gun, 2.275 Rocket Launcher, Twin, High Rate), M97A1 –(Tree-Barreled 20-mm Cannon)
3. Flight hours: Total 5627, Combat 956
4. Flight Duties: UH-1: Pilot-in-Command, OH-6A: Standardization Instructor Pilot, Maintenance Test Pilot, OH-58A/C: Standardization Instructor Pilot, AH-1E/F: Instructor Pilot, Maintenance Test Pilot, UH-60A/L: Maintenance Test Pilot
5. Pilot Wings Earned: Aviator Badge – 20 OCT 1970, Senior Aviator Badge – 12 JUL 1981, Master Aviator Badge – 21 OCT 1985
ORGANIZATIONS:
1. The American Legion Post 0039– Life Member
2. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5337 - Life Member
3. Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 0588- Life Member
4. Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association - Life Member
5. National Guard Association of The United States – Retired Life Member
6. National Guard Association of Maryland – Retired Life Member
7. 29th Division Association
DISTINGUISHING ACHIEVEMENTS:
December 1970 – December 1971: After volunteering to go to Vietnam, I became a helicopter pilot. One of the 29 Air Medals I received was for Valor. Following completion of the OH-6A Instructor Pilot (IP) Course at Vung Tau, I returned to the unit to become the instructor pilot, lead scout and the maintenance test pilot. I flew 956 combat hours and received the Bronze Star.
October 1985 – August 1986: I was hired for an Active Guard Reserve (AGR) position at the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS) as an OH-6A Instructor Pilot. While there, I received a qualification in the OH-58 and attended the Instructor Pilot Course at Fort Rucker, AL. I taught Aeroscout, Night Vision Google, Aircraft Qualification Courses and the Instructor Pilot Courses in the OH-6A and OH-58A/C at EAATS. The Army Commendation Medal was presented to me when I departed for a full-time position with the Maryland Army National Guard.
August 1986 – September 2006: I was hired at the Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) as the Safety Officer and Instructor Pilot in the OH-6A and the OH-58A/C. Maryland was beginning to turn in the OH-6A and get the OH-58A/C helicopters.
As the instructor pilot, I ferried many OH-58A/C to Maryland from other states and conducted pilot refresher training by teaching classes and flying the required hours. I was designated a Standardization Instructor Pilot in the OH-6A and the OH-58A/C and an Instructor Pilot in the AH-1F. As the Safety Officer I was on a team that investigated a fixed wing accident that occurred at Aberdeen Proving Ground Airfield.
A requirement for an Aircraft Survivability Equipment/ Electronic Warfare Officer was added to army aviation, and I volunteered to take on the task. I attended the courses, obtained the computers that became secret computers and organized the program. I became the Tactical Operations Officer in the HHC Avn Bde and assisted the units with their programs. We passed the Aviation Resource Management Surveys (ARMS).
The last position at the support facility was as the Maintenance Officer. I was a Maintenance Test Pilot by this time and the units with the UH-60 were preparing for deployment to the Middle East. I was responsible for ferrying the UH-60A/L from other states, working with the contractors who were doing the modifications to the helicopters and test flying each one as they completed the modifications. I was then responsible for getting the UH-60A/L from the ports after the deployments and getting them to and from the reset locations. Each helicopter that came out of reset had to be test flown.
October 2006 – April 2010: My last position in the Maryland National Guard was as the Command Chief Warrant Officer. Before attaining this position, I had the honor of becoming the first Master Warrant Officer Four and the first Chief Warrant Officer Five in the Maryland Army National Guard. I then attained the first full-time Command Chief Warrant Officer position. I was in the Joint Forces Headquarters in Baltimore at the 5th Regiment Armory. I requested an office at the 5th Regiment Armory and attended the meetings and events with the general staff. I designed a Maryland National Guard Command Chief Warrant Officer coin and attempted to get one to every warrant officer in the Maryland Army National Guard. While helping the Warrant Officer Recruiter with his paperwork I placed the Command Chief Warrant Officer recommendation with the packet. I also taught at the Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) at the 70th Regiment.
I retired on May 1, 2010.
CW5 Harris graduated from Bel Air High School, 100 Heighe Street, Bel Air, MD 21014 on June 16,1967
Harford Community College, 401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, MD 21015 on February 9,1974 with a degree of Associate in Arts
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 193 apprenticeship, 1101 W. Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230 on November 17,1980
Towson State University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252 on January 8,1989 with a degree of Bachelor of Science
MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED:
1970, Primary Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, Fort Wolters, TX
1970, Advanced Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1970, Observation Helicopter (OH)-6A Helicopter Qualification Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1971, OH-6A Instructor Pilot (IP) Course, Vung Tau, VN
1981, Warrant Officer Senior Course, Fort Eustis, VA
1983, OH-6A Instructor Pilot (IP) Course, Eastern ARNG Aviation Training Site (EAATS), Fort Indiantown Gap (FIG), PA
1985, OH-58 Helicopter Qualification Course, EAATS, Fort Indiantown Gap, PA
1985, OH-6 Aeroscout Course, EAATS, Fort Indiantown Gap (FIG), PA
1985, Utility Helicopter (UH)-1 Helicopter Night Vision Goggle (NVG) Course, EAATS, FIG, PA
1985, OH-58 Instructor Pilot Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1986, OH-58 NVG IP Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1986, Army Aviation Safety School, Fort Rucker, AL
1990, Attack Helicopter (AH)-1F Helicopter Qualification Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1990, Naval Deck Landing Qualification Course, USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), Atlantic Ocean
1991, UH-60 Helicopter Qualification Course, Fort Rucker, AL1993 Warrant Officer 1993 Senior Staff Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1994, Aviation Maintenance Officer Course, Fort Eustis, VA
1994, AH-1F Maintenance Test Pilot Course, Fort Eustis, VA
1996, AH-1 Aircrew Coordination Trainers Course, EAATS, Fort Indiantown Gap (FIG), PA
1996, Aircraft Survivability Equipment/Electronic Warfare Officer Course, Fort Rucker, AL
1996, AH-1F Instructor Pilot Course, Western ARNG Aviation Training Site, Marana, AZ
1998, Joint Firepower Control Course, United States Air Force Battlestaff Training School (USAFBTS), Hurlburt Field, FL
1998, Joint Aerospace Command and Control Course, USAFBTS, Hurlburt Field, FL
2001, High Altitude Course, ARNG Army Aviation Training Site, Eagle, CO
2004, UH-60 Maintenance Test Pilot Corse, Fort Rucker, AL
2008, Reserve Components National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Warrant Officer One 19 October 1970
Chief Warrant Officer Two 10 December 1971
Chief Warrant Officer Three 23 February 1978
Chief Warrant Officer Four 21 March 1984
Master Warrant Officer Four 18 June 1993
Chief Warrant Officer Five 21 October 1993
SUMMARY OF OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENTS:
1. December 1970 – December 1971, Helicopter Pilot, D Troop 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment and C Troop 3rd Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry Regiment, Vietnam
2. August 2001 – April 2002, Tactical Operations Officer, HHC 2-224TH Aviation, Task Force Pegasus, SFOR-10, OJF, Bosnia-Herzegovina
MILITARY AWARDS:
Legion Of Merit
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Medal and Air Medal with V Device for Valor
Air Medal (3rd– 29th)
Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with 5 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Good Conduct Medal
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with1 Bronze Stars)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
NATO Medal
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Overseas Service Bars (2)
USA Aviator Badge
USA Senior Aviator Badge
Master Army Aviator Badge
MARYLAND AWARDS:
State of Maryland Distinguished Service Cross
Maryland Meritorious Service Medal
Maryland National Guard Overseas Service Ribbon
Maryland State Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Bottony Devices)
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
1. Helicopter Qualifications: TH-55A, UH-1A/B/C/D/H/M, OH-6A, OH-58A/C,
AH-1E/F, UH-60A/L
2. Helicopter Weapons Qualifications: M3- (2.75 Rocket Launcher), M5- (40-mm Grenade Launcher), M16/21- (7.62 Machine Gun, 2.275 Rocket Launcher, Twin, High Rate), M97A1 –(Tree-Barreled 20-mm Cannon)
3. Flight hours: Total 5627, Combat 956
4. Flight Duties: UH-1: Pilot-in-Command, OH-6A: Standardization Instructor Pilot, Maintenance Test Pilot, OH-58A/C: Standardization Instructor Pilot, AH-1E/F: Instructor Pilot, Maintenance Test Pilot, UH-60A/L: Maintenance Test Pilot
5. Pilot Wings Earned: Aviator Badge – 20 OCT 1970, Senior Aviator Badge – 12 JUL 1981, Master Aviator Badge – 21 OCT 1985
ORGANIZATIONS:
1. The American Legion Post 0039– Life Member
2. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5337 - Life Member
3. Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 0588- Life Member
4. Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association - Life Member
5. National Guard Association of The United States – Retired Life Member
6. National Guard Association of Maryland – Retired Life Member
7. 29th Division Association
DISTINGUISHING ACHIEVEMENTS:
December 1970 – December 1971: After volunteering to go to Vietnam, I became a helicopter pilot. One of the 29 Air Medals I received was for Valor. Following completion of the OH-6A Instructor Pilot (IP) Course at Vung Tau, I returned to the unit to become the instructor pilot, lead scout and the maintenance test pilot. I flew 956 combat hours and received the Bronze Star.
October 1985 – August 1986: I was hired for an Active Guard Reserve (AGR) position at the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS) as an OH-6A Instructor Pilot. While there, I received a qualification in the OH-58 and attended the Instructor Pilot Course at Fort Rucker, AL. I taught Aeroscout, Night Vision Google, Aircraft Qualification Courses and the Instructor Pilot Courses in the OH-6A and OH-58A/C at EAATS. The Army Commendation Medal was presented to me when I departed for a full-time position with the Maryland Army National Guard.
August 1986 – September 2006: I was hired at the Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) as the Safety Officer and Instructor Pilot in the OH-6A and the OH-58A/C. Maryland was beginning to turn in the OH-6A and get the OH-58A/C helicopters.
As the instructor pilot, I ferried many OH-58A/C to Maryland from other states and conducted pilot refresher training by teaching classes and flying the required hours. I was designated a Standardization Instructor Pilot in the OH-6A and the OH-58A/C and an Instructor Pilot in the AH-1F. As the Safety Officer I was on a team that investigated a fixed wing accident that occurred at Aberdeen Proving Ground Airfield.
A requirement for an Aircraft Survivability Equipment/ Electronic Warfare Officer was added to army aviation, and I volunteered to take on the task. I attended the courses, obtained the computers that became secret computers and organized the program. I became the Tactical Operations Officer in the HHC Avn Bde and assisted the units with their programs. We passed the Aviation Resource Management Surveys (ARMS).
The last position at the support facility was as the Maintenance Officer. I was a Maintenance Test Pilot by this time and the units with the UH-60 were preparing for deployment to the Middle East. I was responsible for ferrying the UH-60A/L from other states, working with the contractors who were doing the modifications to the helicopters and test flying each one as they completed the modifications. I was then responsible for getting the UH-60A/L from the ports after the deployments and getting them to and from the reset locations. Each helicopter that came out of reset had to be test flown.
October 2006 – April 2010: My last position in the Maryland National Guard was as the Command Chief Warrant Officer. Before attaining this position, I had the honor of becoming the first Master Warrant Officer Four and the first Chief Warrant Officer Five in the Maryland Army National Guard. I then attained the first full-time Command Chief Warrant Officer position. I was in the Joint Forces Headquarters in Baltimore at the 5th Regiment Armory. I requested an office at the 5th Regiment Armory and attended the meetings and events with the general staff. I designed a Maryland National Guard Command Chief Warrant Officer coin and attempted to get one to every warrant officer in the Maryland Army National Guard. While helping the Warrant Officer Recruiter with his paperwork I placed the Command Chief Warrant Officer recommendation with the packet. I also taught at the Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) at the 70th Regiment.
I retired on May 1, 2010.
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