The United States Army Operational Test Command honored its heroes – past and present – during a ceremony Sept. 30 recognizing Forward Operational Team XIV members and the 31st inductee into the Testers’ Hall of Fame.

Brigadier Gen. Don MacWillie, USAOTC commanding general, told the audience of local dignitaries, Soldiers, DA civilians, contractors, retirees and family members that forward operational assessment teams are an example of how the Army has changed over the past 14 years.

“The forward operational assessment team is truly a team of teams,” he said. “These soldiers, DA civilians and contractors go into theater, and they observe, report and tell a story on the combat systems they see.”

MacWillie paid tribute to family members, whom he said are “why we get up in the morning, tackle tough jobs and sleep well at night. A special thanks to you for your support and understanding on why your FOA members had to miss birthdays and holidays.”

FOA teams, under the direction of USAOTC, have embedded with units during combat operations since 2005 to conduct operational assessments of systems that were rapidly deployed or to obtain data for continuous evaluations.

Assisted by Army Test and Evaluation Command Command Sgt. Maj. Steve Flood and USAOTC Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Bobb, MacWillie presented medals and certificates to the following FOA Team XIV members and family members:



Bronze Star and Afghanistan Campaign medals:

Col. Dave Wellons, FOA Team XIV commander

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Gorres

Capt. John Perez

Staff Sgt. Anthony Crayton.



Defense Meritorious Service and Afghanistan Campaign medals:

Sgt. 1st Class Mark Riedel



Meritorious Service and Afghanistan Campaign medals:

Maj. William Butler

Sgt. 1st Class David Cannon



Meritorious Service and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medals:

Staff Sgt. Denise Lee

Army Commendation and Afghanistan Campaign medals:

Maj. Clinton Verge

Sgt. 1st Class Troy Davis

Sgt. 1st Class Javier Rosario Rivera



Army Commendation and Iraq Campaign medals:

Maj. Katherine Ireland

Staff Sgt. Dallas Callis



Superior Civilian Service and Global War on Terrorism medals:

Mr. Walter Blethen

Mr. William Harrell



Certificates of Appreciation:

Mrs. Edna Wellons

Mrs. Teresa Gorres

Mrs. Kelly Crayton

Ms. Ashley Shantz

Mrs. Gretchen Blethen

Retired Col. and Mrs. William Harrell



In the second half of the ceremony, Wayland D. Smith, former director of the Methodology and Analysis Directorate, USAOTC, was inducted into the Testers’ Hall of Fame. A plaque in his honor will be on permanent display in USAOTC’s Stone Hall.

“Wayland wasn’t selected only because he’s a great professional and a great mentor,” MacWillie said. “He’s also a superb human being with values and dedication to the Army that will be long remembered.”

Smith, who worked 38 years of his 43-year career at USAOTC, started at the organization in 1971, MacWillie said.

“I never in my life thought I was of the caliber for this,” Smith said. “For as long as I walked down that hall, I never thought one day I would be there.”

Smith said he was particularly honored to have three former USAOTC commanders present: Retired General Robert Shoemaker, who commanded USAOTC when it was Project MASSTER (Mobile Army Sensor Systems Test, Evaluation and Review); retired Maj. Gen. Stew Meyer, who commanded the unit when it was the TRADOC Combined Arms Test Activity; and retired Brig. Gen. Anthony Trifiletti, who commanded the unit when it was the Test and Experimentation Command.

“It was General Trifiletti who started the Hall of Fame here,” Smith said. “I’m truly in awe of this day.”

Smith thanked his wife, children and grandchildren for supporting him throughout his career.

The Testers’ Hall of Fame originally opened on TEXCOM’s 25th anniversary, Oct. 4, 1994, with the induction of eight operational testers.

A board of directors, governed by a set of by-laws, conducts the selection process annually with the ceremony scheduled as close to the Oct. 4 anniversary date, as possible.