4,800+ flight hours and more than 42 years military service

By Nila Harris

David Mattox, PCHS class of 1981, reached his 60th birthday this past month and with that landmark event, Mattox celebrated another big achievement—retirement from the Kentucky Army National Guard. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mattox’s career spanned over 42 years in the military—first starting as active-duty US Army for three years followed by 27 years in the KY National Guard, then he spent over eight years in the US Army Reserves before circling back to the Guard for four more years to finish out his career.

As a 17-year-old, Mattox completed his basic training in Ft. Jackson, SC and went on to be trained as an AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter Mechanic, working with the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell. He completed Warrant Officer training and Helicopter Flight School, then deployed to Kuwait and Iraq to fight the war on terrorism.

In 1984, Mattox joined the KY National Guard and became an UH-1 Huey helicopter pilot, then a maintenance test pilot. Next, he was an OH-58 Kiowa warrior pilot and maintenance test pilot. This was followed by him becoming an UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot and maintenance pilot. “As a Blackhawk pilot, I then became an Instructor Pilot, Instrument Flight Examiner, and Maintenance Test Pilot Examiner in multiple versions of the UH-60 from the legacy aircraft to today’s glass cockpit modernized aircraft,” explained Mattox.  He also spent eight years flying the Army’s modernized Blackhawk while serving in the US Army Reserves.  In 42 years, Mattox accumulated more than 4,800 flight hours.

Throughout Mattox’s career, he earned several promotions, decorations, and badges, including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Master Army Aviator Badge, Senior Army Aviator Badge, and Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal. He earned his wings as an army aviator in 1986 after his Warrant Officer training and the Legion of Merit award last month. He also was awarded with eight promotions, with his final rank being Chief Warrant Officer 5. Despite the numerous awards and commendations, Mattox did not want to be called a “hero”. “My comrades who lost their lives over the years or actually saved lives are the heroes. I’m just a guy who stuck with it, and I believe I have served honorably.”

David is married to Lisa Fogle Mattox, who also recently retired as an Elementary Children’s Minister at Capital City Christian Church. They have two sons—Lincoln who is serving in the US Air Force as an avionics mechanic and Logan who is a 2022 graduate from the University of Kentucky. David and Lisa reside near Frankfort and plan on doing ministry work, traveling, and sharing their faith.

Congratulations David Mattox on a remarkable career in the military and thank you for your service.