Helicopter pilot Gautreaux later named Executive Officer
- Retired Lieutenant Colonel Jay Gautreaux is originally from Chauvin, La. CONTRIBUTED
MADISON – Retired Lieutenant Colonel Jay Gautreaux enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 1986. He retired in April 2010.
After completing Basic Training at Fort Knox, Ky., Gautreaux finished Advanced Individual Training at Fort Rucker as a helicopter repairer and then served in that capacity at Fort Lewis, Wash.
Back at Fort Rucker, he completed the Officer Basic Course, along with Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training. Gautreaux served as Platoon Leader and Battalion Adjutant/S1 at Fort Hood, Texas. He also completed the Aviation Officer Advanced Course, again at Fort Rucker.
In Hawaii, Gautreaux worked as Platoon Leader and Company Commander at Wheeler Army Airfield. He graduated from Combined Arms Services and Staff School (CAS3) at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
He completed Systems Automation Course at Fort Gordon, Ga and Material Acquisition Management Course at Fort Lee, Va. Gautreaux then served as Executive Officer, Assistant Product Manager (Communications, APM) Air Warrior and Executive Officer at Redstone Arsenal.
“I completed Air Command and General Staff Course at Maxwell Air Force Base, and I served as Acquisition Instructor and Battle Lab Officer at Fort Leavenworth,” Gautreaux said. He served as APM – Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) and Product Director Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment (RAID) at Redstone Arsenal.
Chauvin, La. is his hometown. “My first PCS move to this area was May 1999 and then for a second time in June 2006,” Gautreaux said.
At Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La., he completed the ROTC program and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Gautreaux received a MBA from Tarleton State University at Fort Hood and a master’s degree in military art and science from Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB.
Gautreaux now works as a consultant with Dutch Valley Supply/ECI Defense Group.
His wife Susan works as assistant librarian at Providence Middle School. Their children are Derek of Arab, sales manager at Freedom Powersports; Tyler of Baton Rouge, La., assistant store manager for Talbot’s; and Jayden, ninth-grader at New Century High School.
Gautreaux is a member of Army Aviation Association of America, Association of the United States Army, Knights of Columbus (3rd Degree) and American Legion.
His hobbies are fishing, walking and swimming.
