The U.S. Army Operational Test Command honored its heroes — past and present — during a ceremony Thursday recognizing Forward Operational Team XIV members and the 31st inductee into the Testers' Hall of Fame.

Brig. Gen. Don MacWillie, the command's leader, told the audience of local dignitaries, soldiers, Department of the Army civilians, contractors, retirees and family members that forward operational assessment teams are an example of how the Army has changed in the last 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 (forward operational assessment) members had to miss birthdays and holidays."

Forward operational assessment teams, under the direction of the command, 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 Sgt. Maj. Steve Flood, Army Test and Evaluation Command's senior noncommissioned officer, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Bobb, the command's senior noncommissioned officer, MacWillie presented medals and certificates to the following team members and family members:

Bronze Star and Afghanistan Campaign medals: Col. Dave Wellons, team commander; Lt. Col. Jeffrey Gorres; Capt. John Perez and 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 and 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 and Sgt. 1st Class Javier Rosario Rivera.

Army Commendation and Iraq Campaign medals: Maj. Katherine Ireland and Staff Sgt. Dallas Callis.

Superior Civilian Service and Global War on Terrorism medals: Walter Blethen and William Harrell.

Certificates of Appreciation: Edna Wellons, Teresa Gorres, Kelly Crayton, Ashley Shantz, Gretchen Blethen and Retired Col. and Mrs. William Harrell.

In the second half of the ceremony, Wayland D. Smith, former director of the Methodology and Analysis Directorate, was inducted into the Testers' Hall of Fame. A plaque in his honor will be on permanent display in the command'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 the command, 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 Operational Test Command leaders present: Retired Gen. Robert Shoemaker, who led the command when it was Project Mobile Army Sensor Systems Test, Evaluation and Review; retired Maj. Gen. Stew Meyer, who commanded the unit when it was U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Combined Arms Test Activity; and retired Brig. Gen. Anthony Trifiletti, who commanded the unit when it was Test and Experimentation Command.

"It was Gen. 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 the Test and Experimentation Command'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 October 4 anniversary date as possible.