By U.S. Army Operational Test Command Public Affairs

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — The 25th Annual Operational Testers’ Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be hosted by U.S. Army Operational Test Command’s (USAOTC) Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate (ABNSOTD) here at 9 a.m. Sept. 20.

The 2018 Hall of Fame inductee, Chief Warrant Officer 2 (R) Henry “Hank” Canty, of Fayetteville, N.C., served in support of operational testing for over 26 years.

As a Test Officer and Test Parachutist, Canty tested equipment and systems for Low Velocity Airdrop, High Velocity Airdrop, Low Cost Aerial Delivery System, Container Delivery System, and aircraft and helicopter certification.

Canty was responsible for the planning, execution, and reporting of multiple variants of the Low Cost Container System used to provide a cost-effective alternative to the Army’s cargo parachute in support of Humanitarian Operations and the aerial resupply by small contract aircraft to remote, austere operational bases in Afghanistan and Iraq.

During his career, Canty was intently focused on safety and minimizing the risk for Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen or Marines who would later use the equipment he tested.

The Hall of Fame, which inducted its first class in October 1994, has served to honor Soldiers and Civilians for their commitment to putting the best possible equipment and systems into the hands of Soldiers in both training and combat conditions.

Thirty-nine Army operational testers and leaders have been inducted since the first ceremony in 1994.

The ceremony will take place at the 82nd Airborne Division’s “Hall of Heroes.”

Canty is the 40th inductee.

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About the U.S. Army Operational Test Command:

As the Army’s only independent operational tester, the Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas-based USAOTC tests Army, joint, and multi-service warfighting systems in realistic operational environments, using typical Soldiers to determine whether the systems are effective, suitable, and survivable. USA OTC is required by public law to test major systems before they are fielded to its ultimate customer — the American Soldier.

The Fort Bragg, N.C-based Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate plans, executes, and reports on operational tests and field experiments of Airborne and Special Operations Forces equipment, procedures, aerial delivery and air transportation systems in order to provide key operational data for the continued development and fielding of doctrine, systems or equipment to the Warfighter.