CW5 Derrick J. Kanouse

CW5 Derrick Kanouse enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard on December 22, 2000, as an Infantry Rifleman and M203 grenadier in Charlie Company 3rd 116th Infantry Regiment. In 2003, Mr. Kanouse was selected to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School. He graduated from U.S. Army Rotary Wing Flight School and the UH-60 Aircraft Qualification Course at Fort Rucker, AL in 2004. 

His previous assignments include 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, Sandston, VA; Papago Military Reservation, Phoenix, AZ; National Guard Bureau, Arlington, VA; Joint Forces Headquarters, DC National Guard; Western ARNG Aviation Training Site (WAATS), Red Rock, AZ. He has deployed to Iraq as a UH-60 aviator.
 
CW5 Kanouse is qualified as a UH-60 Standardization Instructor Pilot, Aviation Safety Officer, and Aviation Mission Survivability Officer. Mr. Kanouse is rated in the OH-58A/C and the UH-60. In addition to his aviation service, he has served at the HQDA level representing the ARNG as a human resources technician, personnel data analyst and training resource manager.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leave Clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Master Army Aviator Badge.

He is a graduate of Prince William Forest Park High School, Woodbridge, Virginia and Excelsior College, Albany, New York with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Studies. He currently serves as the Deputy Commandant, ARNG at the Warrant Officer Career College.