Fort Novosel once again Fort Rucker after ceremony honoring aviation pioneer

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July 18, 2025

The U.S. Army officially restored the name Fort Rucker to its Wiregrass installation Thursday during a ceremony at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.

In June, the Secretary of the Army directed the change to honor Capt Edward W. Rucker Jr., a World War I aviation pioneer and Army Air Corps pilot. The installation, originally named after Confederate soldier Edmund Rucker, was renamed Fort Novosel in 2023 to honor Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel Sr., a Medal of Honor recipient who served in World War II and the Vietnam War, as part of an initiative to remove Confederate names from military bases.

Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, commanding general of the Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker, welcomed attendees with a heartfelt message. He called the event a unique moment for the Wiregrass, noting that while the name returns to something familiar, it now honors a different individual.

Gill highlighted Rucker’s remarkable legacy as a pioneer who “flew above the best in one of the darkest moments in our nation’s history.” Rucker began his service in the Missouri National Guard in 1915, later serving on the Mexican-American border before choosing to attend flight school instead of pursuing a regular Army commission. After training in Toronto and Texas, he deployed with the 27th Aero Squadron in June 1918, where he engaged enemy forces in France in a daring mission that earned him the Distinguished Service Cross. His citation praised his courage and skill in driving off enemy aircraft and protecting reconnaissance planes despite being outnumbered deep inside enemy territory. Rucker also earned the French Croix de Guerre with a palm leaf for his extraordinary valor.

Gill noted that Rucker’s heroism and the images of brave World War I aviators inspired generations to pursue a career in aviation. He reflected on the installation’s legacy.

“They say that home is where the heart is, and our home once again has a familiar moniker, Fort Rucker. The heart of this home will forever belong to aviation warfighters like Edward Rucker, Mike Novosel, and all those who call and will call this place home.”