Chief Warrant Officer 4
Matthew P. Caputo

Chief Warrant Officer Four Matthew P. Caputo was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1936 and enlisted in the Army in 1955 as an Automotive Mechanic. In April 1967, he was discharged as a Sergeant First Class and appointed a Warrant Officer One at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

His major contributions include assisting in the establishment of the Army Master Data File (AMDF), improving supply and maintenance support for low density engineer equipment, and improving the lighting on standard, emergency, and oversized vehicle fleets. Over $17 million dollars in cost avoidance and savings were achieved through his direct contributions.

While assigned in Europe, he initiated several programs that reduced maintenance down-time and accidents. Safety programs he initiated included the installation of side marker lights on the mobile assault bridge; standardization of rotating amber warning lighting kits; replacement of front axle brake hoses on 20,000 2 1/2 ton cargo trucks; and conversion of 100,000 vehicles from polyglycol to silicone brake fluid. Materiel readiness programs he initiated included the rotation of 20,000 low mileage tactical wheeled vehicles placed in War Reserve with vehicles in active Army units to balance the fleet and improve readiness; an upgrade of the M151 Jeep to sustain an acceptable readiness rate until CUCV and HMMWV replacement vehicles were received; and a repair program that rebuilt 60-amp alternators that returned over 600 tactical vehicles and/or engine assemblies to an operational status.

He submitted over 300 recommended changes to publications, 97 percent of which were approved. He retired in November 1988 as a Chief Warrant Officer Four, and continued to serve the nation and the Ordnance Corps in his position as an Equipment Specialist with the United States Army, Europe and Seventh Army, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics. Mr. Caputo's tireless and selfless dedication to the Ordnance Corps and the Army has earned him the richly deserved reputation as an expert in all aspects of supply, readiness, safety, maintenance, cataloging, and operation of automotive equipment.