Donald R. Howerton

Donald R. Howerton was born on May 3, 1951, in Tucson, AZ. In the face of the ongoing Vietnam War, he chose to serve his country immediately upon high school graduation in 1969, foregoing college to fulfill his patriotic duty. Subsequently, he earned selection through competitive testing for the prestigious training program to become an Army Aviator.

Mr. Howerton was appointed Warrant Officer One and was awarded his wings as a qualified rotary-wing (helicopter) pilot upon completion of Advanced Flight Training at Fort Rucker, AL, in 1970. His military service took him to remote and classified locations around the world, where the specifics of much of his duty remain undisclosed. During this time, he commanded a fixed-wing element of his unit, earned the esteemed “Green Beret” with the Army Special Forces and Operation Delta, and served 16 years in special operations. His exceptional contributions to these units were honored with the presentation of his unit’s colors, a rare distinction reserved for individuals whose outstanding performance is held as routine.

CW5 (Ret) Howerton was among the first warrant officers to achieve the rank of Master Warrant Officer and earned the Master Army Aviator rating. Over the course of his distinguished career, he amassed more than 8,000 flying hours, excelling in both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. After a distinguished tenure in special operations, he was assigned to the Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, where he served as Chief of the Advanced Studies Branch at the Warrant Officer Career Center. He was later selected to serve as the Deputy Commandant of the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career Center.

Although Don’s career was distinguished by numerous acts of valor, his unwavering commitment to the advancement and welfare of his fellow warrant officers remains the hallmark of his legacy.