The U.S. Army’s Operational Test Command held its 22nd annual induction ceremony on West Fort Hood at the command’s headquarters Tuesday morning.

The ceremony inducted retired Maj. Phillip Riley into the Operational Tester’s Hall of Fame, making him the 36th OTC inductee.

Brig. Gen. Kenneth Kamper, U.S. Army OTC commander, gave opening remarks during the ceremony.

“The Hall of Fame recognizes the dedication and selfless service of the military and civilian members of the Army’s OTC,” Kamper said. “What we have today with us is a person who has given much and we are so very appreciative of that.”

Riley served a combined 50 years of military and civilian service in which he functioned as a company commander in Vietnam, participated in the Abrams main battle tank operational test and was instrumental in processing more than 1,000 operational test plans.

Nominated by their peers and elected each year by a board of directors, the Hall of Fame has been honoring extraordinary individuals in OTC since 1994 and provides an opportunity to record the history of operational testing through the feats of its people.

Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Graham, U.S. Army OTC command sergeant major, said he wished he could have served with such a distinguished individual.

“Mr. Phillip Riley is a shinning example of what OTC and its people are all about,” Graham said. “It would have been great to been on the same team as him and watch him do the great things that he has done.”

When Riley received the news that he was going to be inducted into the OTC Hall of Fame, he said he was at a loss for words.

“It’s unbelievable,” Riley said. “It has not yet sunken in.”

His plaque now hangs with the other inductees such as retired Gen. Robert Shoemaker, former III Corps and Fort Hood commander, who Riley said he is humbled to be included with.

In the end though, he said having his family there to help him celebrate it was the real treat.

“It made it extra special,” Riley said. “It was the cherry on top of the ice cream.”