More detail on this person: Brahney began his professional career in June 1962 as an Aerospace
Research Engineer on NASA s Apollo Program with North American Aviation in Los Angeles. Despite a
critical skills occupational deferment, he opted to enter the Air Force Officer Training School. He
was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in March 1963 and was selected for jet pilot training. He
received his wings in May 1964 and went on to advanced helicopter flight training. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
08/31/2024
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In 1966-67, Brahney served a tour in Vietnam, flying 200 combat sorties as a Rescue Helicopter
Pilot. He was credited with saving nine lives and was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross
for Heroism, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and another Distinguished Flying Cross and seven Air
Medals for meritorious achievement in flight.
In 1968, Brahney was selected to attend the U. S. Navy Test Pilot School and following graduation,
he was assigned to the Flight Test Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio where he tested a
variety of aircraft and flight systems. He was Chief Test Pilot on the Air Cushion Landing System
program, and he was the only pilot to make full-stop landings on this experimental system. During
his seven-year tenure as a test pilot, he also traveled to Canada and Japan to test experimental
aircraft developed in those countries.
Brahney's flying career spanned thirteen years during which he compiled 2800 flying hours in 35
different aircraft, including single- and multi-engine jets, single- and multi-engine
props/turboprops, helicopters, seaplanes, gyrocopters, and gliders. He was pilot-qualified in 23
different aircraft.
From 1976 to 1979, Brahney progressed through a series of program management positions before
being appointed as Director of the Advanced Rescue Helicopter Program.
Brahney was also Commander of the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Pittsburgh for two
years.
At the end of 1982, following his retirement as a USAF Lieutenant Colonel, Brahney began a second
career with SAE where he developed and managed aerospace technical conferences throughout the US,
Europe and Asia. He also served as Associate Editor of Aerospace Engineering magazine where he
published over 200 technical articles. In addition to his ME degree from Youngstown University,
Brahney held an M.S. in systems management from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. in
higher education administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He was also a graduate of Armed
Forces Staff College and Defense Systems Management College.
Brahney taught organization and management courses at Youngstown State University, University of
Pittsburgh and University of Maryland.
Survivors: Wife Carolyn; Sons James Eric and Scott; Daughter Mary; Seven grandchildren. Three
sisters.
He will be inducted into the Ohio Hall of Fame for Valor in May 2010. He was looking forward to
accepting his award.
From: Mary Brahney