Chuck Gant is a native of El Paso, TX. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery in 1968 upon graduation from the University of Texas at El Paso. After the Officer Basic Course at Ft. Sill, OK, Mr. Gant was assigned to the Army Aviation School for helicopter flight training. Following graduation and the AH-1G Cobra course, he joined the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi, Republic of Vietnam. Mr. Gant flew 900+ combat hours in attack, scout, and utility helicopters over Vietnam and Cambodia. Returning to the United States in December 1970, Mr. Gant was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, TX, where he held various leadership and instructor pilot positions in the 227th Aviation Battalion and the 7-17th Cavalry.
During an 18-month break in service due to a Reduction in Force, Mr. Gant was employed as a supervisor and line pilot for Arizona Helicopters of Scottsdale and McCord Helicopters of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Duties included HeliTac fire suppression, seismic, and external load operations in high altitude environments of Northern California and British Columbia, Canada.
Mr. Gant returned to active duty as a Chief Warrant Officer in January 1975. He was subsequently assigned to Korea where he was a Command Pilot for the I Corps Commander. After completion of his tour, Mr. Gant was stationed at Fort Rucker, AL, as an AH-1 Cobra Standardization Instructor Pilot in the Department of Flight Training and Directorate of Evaluation and Standardization. In March 1979, Mr. Gant regained his commission and was assigned as the Executive Officer for the SHAPE Flight Detachment, Casteau, Belgium. He became Commander of the unit in September 1979 and served as the Command Pilot for the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR). Mr. Gant returned, once again, to Fort Rucker in June 1982 to serve as a Test Project Officer at the Aviation Board. After a one-year period, he was selected as Secretary General Staff for the Army Aviation Center.
In June 1984, Mr. Gant joined Task Force 160 at Fort Campbell, KY. He commanded the NIGHT STALKER’s Light Assault Helicopter Company, served as the Assistant S-3 for Current Operations, and ultimately became Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Aviation Group in June 1988. In July 1989, Mr. Gant assumed the leadership of the 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation at the Army Aviation Center. Following the completion of his two-year command tour, Mr. Gant was selected to be the Aviation Warfighting Center’s Inspector General. After attendance at the Naval War College in 1993, Mr. Gant became the TRADOC System Manager-Comanche. He held this position until his retirement, in the rank of Colonel, in March 1997.
Mr. Gant’s military education includes attendance at the Armor Advanced Course, Army Command and General Staff College, and the Armed Forces Staff College. He also has a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, RI.
Chuck Gant is a former Master Army Aviator and Instructor Pilot. He currently holds an FAA Airline Transport rating and is a Certified Flight and Instrument Instructor with over 6,800 accident free flying hours in fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Chuck is an avid pilot and flies a Pitts Special for fun.
chuck.gant@lsirucker.com
(334) 598-6342