CW4 Dale Taylor

CW4 Taylor enlisted in the United States Army in March 1976 as a Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic (63B), completing Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He began his military career as a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic and Motor Sergeant in Wurzburg, Germany with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Infantry Division.

As an enlisted Soldier and Non-Commissioned Officer, he served in various positions from mechanic to Motor Sergeant in combat support and combat service support units to Drill Sergeant. He distinguished himself by positively impacting equipment and Soldier readiness of each unit in which he served. In 1986, he applied for and was accepted into the Warrant Officer Candidate Course, graduating in October 1986.

CW4 Taylor’s first assignment as a Warrant Officer was as the Battalion Maintenance Officer for 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, Fort Richardson, Alaska. During this assignment his skills and abilities as a planner, operator, and functional area expert led him to be labeled as a master in his field. His expertise and leadership skills led his unit to win the Division Army Award for Maintenance Excellence for four consecutive years. He maintained equipment readiness above 90% under harsh arctic conditions. Additionally, he deployed to Sinai, Egypt as part of the Multinational Force and Observers.

His notable assignments include the National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, California. During his time at NTC, CW4 Taylor supervised the repair and rebuild of the AGT 1500 turbine tank engines. He was able to surge production 150% several times to support rotational units to meet readiness requirements. He was able to realize a cost savings of $97.5M. Senior maintenance personnel from most rotational units would seek CW4 Taylor’s expertise and assistance on how to maintain the M1 tank in the harsh desert environment of the NTC.

His final assignment was a nominative assignment as an Assistant Inspector General, Headquarters, Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia. During this assignment he participated in a two-year inspection / study of equipment readiness within FORSCOM. Based on the work of this inspection / study, CW4 Taylor authored a report that was used to change maintenance programs of instruction in Army schools, priority of funding, manning documents and MTOEs. Changes made improved readiness throughout the Army. CW4 Taylor retired from active duty in 2003.

CW4 Taylor made significant contributions to the Ordnance Corps for nearly forty years as an enlisted Soldier, Non-Commissioned Officer, Warrant Officer and Department of Army Civilian. He served as the Chief of the Maintenance Branch, Headquarters, Forces Command, G-4. He retired from civil service in March 2020.

CW4 Taylor’s awards include but are not limited to the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters.