Today's Featured Biography
Mark Robinson
LTC (Ret) MARK W. ROBINSON
LTC Mark Robinson was commissioned in 1982 to Second Lieutenant, Armor Branch, having served for 9 years as an Aviation Warrant Officer. He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Safety Management in 1979. He also holds Master Degrees in General Administration from Central Michigan University and Safety Engineering from Texas A&M University. He additionally completed the Air University Command and Staff residency program accredited as a Master’s Degree in Professional Military Studies.
LTC Robinson entered the Army in March of 1973, completing the warrant officer flight training program as the last class at Fort Wolters, Texas in April 1974. He served in various flight positions, including AH-1G and AH-S Standardization Pilot, Battalion Operations Officer, and Battalion Safety Officer at locations including 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, 4/7th Air Calvary Squadron, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Stanton, Korea, and the 155th Attack Helicopter Company and 7th Aviation Battalion, Fort Ord, California.
Mark Robinson received a direct commission from Chief Warrant Officer 3 in November 1982 while serving with the 7th Aviation Battalion, Fort Ord, California. He then served as a Platoon Leader, Operations Officer, and Instructor Pilot in the AH-1S Cobra and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He pioneered instruction in the Pilot Night Vision Sensor, mounted on specially modified AH-1S aircraft, used to train AH-64 initial key personnel.
LTC Robinson commanded in the 1-82nd Attack Helicopter Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During his tenure in the 82nd Airborne Division, the battalion successfully completed all initial unit certification with AH-64 aircraft at the Apache Training Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas and then deployed into combat during Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm with no combat losses, while inflicting significant casualties upon enemy forces.
He culminated his 30 years of military service at the US Army Safety Center, Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he served as an aircraft accident investigator, and ultimately Director of Training, overseeing all Army safety professional training courses.
Since his retirement in September 2002, Mark Robinson has worked as both a contractor and a government employee, developing unmanned aviation systems, the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile system, and the Joint Multi-Role Aircraft. System development relied upon subject matter expertise, extensive analysis, and modeling and simulation to advance programs through the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System. He advanced doctrine development, and the Foreign Military Sales program for attack helicopters around the world.
Mark Robinson is currently employed as the Futures Chief for the Medical Evacuation Proponency Directorate, Fort Rucker, Alabama, ensuring MEDEVAC requirements are solidified into future aviation vertical lift platforms.
LTC Robinson is a Master Army Aviator having logged over 4500 hours of accident-free military flight time. Awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), the Air Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (OLC), and the Army Achievement Medal, and the Parachutist Badge. He was awarded overseas medals for service in the Gulf War and the Invasion of Panama.
LTC Robinson (Ret) is divorced. He has a son, Jason, and two daughters, Haley and Rachel. He continues to fly vintage military helicopters as a volunteer for the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation in air shows throughout the eastern United States.
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