Fort Novosel, Alabama, houses the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence. The center trains pilots and maintenance workers for the Army’s own air force of small fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters. Also at the post are the Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center, the Army Aviation Technical Test Center, and the Army Aeromedical Center. The post lies about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Dothan and covers about 64,000 acres (26,000 hectares).
The fort, formerly called Fort Rucker, was established in 1942. It was named for Colonel Edmund W. Rucker, a Confederate Army cavalry leader. In 2023, the fort’s name was changed to honor Chief Warrant Officer Michael Novosel. Novosel served as an aviator during World War II (1939-1945), the Korean War (1950-1953), and the Vietnam War (1957-1975).
