CARY PATRICK DOWLING (CW4 RETIRED)
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cary Patrick Dowling (Ret.) served more than 35 years in the United States Army, Army Reserve, and California Army National Guard, building a distinguished career as an Army Aviator and aviation leader. He began his military service in 1979, completing Basic Training and Field Artillery training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, followed by Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. His early assignments included service with airborne and field artillery units in Italy, Fort Bragg, and Fort Benning, before transitioning to the Army Reserve where he served as a Drill Sergeant. In 1989, he attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, beginning a long career in Army Aviation flying attack and reconnaissance aircraft and serving in units across Korea, California, and multiple U.S. installations.
As an Army Aviator and Instructor Pilot, CW4 Dowling accumulated extensive operational and leadership experience, including assignments with cavalry and attack aviation units and multiple deployments in support of U.S. military operations. His service included Operation Desert Thunder in Kuwait (1998), a deployment to Iraq in 2003, and a deployment to Afghanistan from 2012–2013 with the California Army National Guard. Over his career he qualified in multiple aircraft and advanced aviation roles, including AH-1 Cobra, OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, and CH-47 Chinook, and served as an Instructor Pilot, Instrument Flight Examiner, and Aviation Operations Officer. His many awards include three Air Medals, seven Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, the Combat Action Badge, Master Army Aviator Badge, and Parachutist Badge, reflecting a career defined by professionalism, technical expertise, and dedicated service to the nation.