LTC Robert Beale ’02

2022 Nininger Award Recipient

The West Point Association of Graduates is pleased to announce that Lieutenant Colonel Robert K. Beale, Class of 2002, has been selected to receive the 2022 Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms, which will be presented on October 20, 2022, at West Point, New York.

On September 14, 2011, then Captain Beale displayed exceptional valor, courage, and leadership as the Pilot and Air Mission Commander (AMC) for 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) while assigned to the Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Beale was returning from a planned operation leading five Chinook helicopters when he heard a nine-line medevac request come over an open channel. As the AMC, he did a quick calculation and determined his helicopter was 12 minutes away from a wounded service member. After receiving approval from his chain of command, he diverted to what turned out to be a Navy EOD tech who had been wounded by an improvised explosive device. Beale decided to conduct an immediate daylight hoist extraction without fire support while under heavy RPG fire. After hoisting the flight medic to the wounded EOD Tech, he repositioned his Chinook to a nearby field, successfully extracting him and (per medical personnel) saving his life. According to the citation of the Silver Star that Beale received for his actions on that day, “His calm demeanor and poise under fire instilled confidence in his crew, allowing them to maintain their composure and situational awareness while evacuating the casualty.”

In addition to his Silver Star, Beale has been awarded four Bronze Stars, five Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Medals, the Combat Action Badge, the Master Aviator Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Army Staff Badge.

Beale has been deployed more than a dozen times during his career and is currently serving at U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and completed a Master of Arts in International Relations from Webster University.