Mangum, former head of Army Special Operations Aviation Command, headed to Fort Rucker

    July 10, 2012

    Source The Fayetteville Observer, N.C.

    July 09--The former head of Army Special Operations Aviation Command will head to Fort Rucker, Ala., where he will lead the base and the Aviation Center of Excellence, according to the Department of Defense.

    Maj. Gen. Kevin W. Mangum was tapped for the new assignment Monday, according to a release.

    Mangum was the aviation command's first leader. It was formed on Fort Bragg in March 2011. He handed the reins to Col. Clayton Hutmacher last month in a ceremony on Fort Bragg.

    A 1982 West Point graduate, Mangum began his Army career as an armor officer, joined the fledgling Task Force 160 and served four more tours in the secretive world of special operations aviation.

    Based at Fort Bragg, Army Special Operations Aviation Command oversees the elite helicopter crews that work with other special operators, including the Navy SEALs who killed Osama bin Laden.

    Overall, the command oversees about 3,500 soldiers and 200 aircraft, mostly assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, Ky.

    At Fort Rucker, Mangum will replace Maj. Gen. Anthony G. Crutchfield, according to the Department of Defense.

    Crutchfield is moving on to become chief of staff of U.S. Pacific Command at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii.

    Staff writer Drew Brooks can be reached at [email protected] or 486-3567.

    Copyright 2012 - The Fayetteville Observer, N.C.