John Nailor '84
Service to Humanity
After graduation, John enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer. He attended Warrant Officer Candidate/Flight School and received an appointment as Warrant Officer in 1990.
Nailor’s first assignment as a pilot was in Manheim, Germany, flying CH-47 Chinooks where he deployed in support of Operation Restore Hope. In 1994, he was reassigned to Camp Humphreys, Korea. A year later, after successful special testing with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), CW5 Nailor was assigned to A Company 2nd Battalion in the 160th SOAR, (Special Operations Aviation Regiment), where he served for the next 15 years. The 160th SOAR, also known as Night Stalkers and headquartered at Fort Campbell, KY, provides helicopter aviation support for general purpose forces and special operations forces. While at Ft. Campbell, John served as an MH-47 mission pilot ultimately achieving Flight Lean qualification in 1997 and held various positions as an Instructor Pilot, Instrument Examiner, Tactical Operations Officer and Standardization Officer at both company and battalion levels. Nailor deployed 11 times to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq as an MH-47 Flight Lead while with the 160th SOAR. His last assignment in the 160th was as the initial Battalion Standardization Officer of the newly formed 4th Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington.
John earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Studies from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. He also graduated from the Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course, Fort Rucker, Alabama.
John’s military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, 7 Air Medals, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Combat Action Badge. In 2001, John was selected by the Army Aviation Association of America as the Army Aviator of the Year.
John accepted a position as Commander of 2nd Aviation Detachment at the U.S. Military Academy in June, 2010. He described his time with the 2nd Aviation as rewarding and also unique since there are only five aviation detachments in the Army that have warrant officers as commanders. To command the "Wings of West Point" was a highlight of his career. This detachment provides cadets with their first opportunity to preview the skills and opportunities in Army Aviation.
Following his retirement in 2013, John began his new job as a pilot for paramedics of Air Methods in New York which is responsible for the medical evacuation for the Greater New York City Area. He currently resides in New York with his wife Tina, son Rolian, and daughter Narelle.
Nailor’s first assignment as a pilot was in Manheim, Germany, flying CH-47 Chinooks where he deployed in support of Operation Restore Hope. In 1994, he was reassigned to Camp Humphreys, Korea. A year later, after successful special testing with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), CW5 Nailor was assigned to A Company 2nd Battalion in the 160th SOAR, (Special Operations Aviation Regiment), where he served for the next 15 years. The 160th SOAR, also known as Night Stalkers and headquartered at Fort Campbell, KY, provides helicopter aviation support for general purpose forces and special operations forces. While at Ft. Campbell, John served as an MH-47 mission pilot ultimately achieving Flight Lean qualification in 1997 and held various positions as an Instructor Pilot, Instrument Examiner, Tactical Operations Officer and Standardization Officer at both company and battalion levels. Nailor deployed 11 times to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq as an MH-47 Flight Lead while with the 160th SOAR. His last assignment in the 160th was as the initial Battalion Standardization Officer of the newly formed 4th Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington.
John earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Studies from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. He also graduated from the Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course, Fort Rucker, Alabama.
John’s military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, 7 Air Medals, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Combat Action Badge. In 2001, John was selected by the Army Aviation Association of America as the Army Aviator of the Year.
John accepted a position as Commander of 2nd Aviation Detachment at the U.S. Military Academy in June, 2010. He described his time with the 2nd Aviation as rewarding and also unique since there are only five aviation detachments in the Army that have warrant officers as commanders. To command the "Wings of West Point" was a highlight of his career. This detachment provides cadets with their first opportunity to preview the skills and opportunities in Army Aviation.
Following his retirement in 2013, John began his new job as a pilot for paramedics of Air Methods in New York which is responsible for the medical evacuation for the Greater New York City Area. He currently resides in New York with his wife Tina, son Rolian, and daughter Narelle.