Advisory Board
Chief Warrant Officer Three (Ret.) Robert Nevins
Congressional Gold Medal Recipient · Combat Medevac Pilot · Decorated Vietnam Veteran · Advisory Board, Friends, NYS Military Museum
Chief Warrant Officer Three (Ret.) Robert Nevins is a decorated Vietnam War combat veteran, medical evacuation pilot, and national advocate for trauma healing and suicide prevention among veterans and first responders. He currently serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Friends of the New York State Military Museum, where he brings unparalleled insight into combat service, healing, and resilience.
Nevins served in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971 as a medevac pilot with the 101st Airborne Division (DUSTOFF), conducting hundreds of high-risk rescue missions in enemy territory. On January 15, 1971, while attempting an urgent extraction under fire, his helicopter was shot down. Though severely wounded, he courageously evacuated fellow crew members from the burning wreckage, an act for which he received the Soldier’s Medal, the military’s highest award for valor outside of combat. He was also awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Purple Heart, and multiple Air Medals for heroism and aerial achievement. In 1978, he was named New York State’s Vietnam Veteran of the Year, and in 2016, he received the Veteran of the Year Award from the Friends of the NYS Military Museum and the Capital Region Chapter of AUSA. In November 2024, Nevins was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his pioneering role in helicopter medical evacuation during the Vietnam War.
Following his military service, Nevins continued flying as a helicopter pilot in the New York Army National Guard and then as a commercial airline captain for 24 years. He was in the air on September 11, 2001, and safely diverted his aircraft to Canada as part of the national response. In 2011, he retired from commercial aviation to focus full-time on his mission to heal the psychological and physiological wounds of war.
Motivated by a near-death experience in Vietnam and a deep desire to address the invisible scars of trauma, Nevins co-founded Alliance180. This nonprofit equine-assisted program connects veterans with retired racehorses for transformative, peer-led healing. His work has expanded to support first responders and healthcare professionals, offering powerful new tools in the fight against veteran and first responder suicide, challenges that have reached crisis levels nationwide. He has worked with over 1,000 participants to date.
Bob’s enduring legacy is one of compassionate leadership, courage under fire, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of those who serve. As a trusted advisor to the Friends of the New York State Military Museum, he continues to advocate for the preservation of history and the emotional well-being of America’s military community.
Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Robert W. Van Pelt
AUSA Leader · Decorated Vietnam Veteran · Patriot · Advisory Board, Friends of the NYS Military Museum
Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Robert W. Van Pelt is a highly decorated U.S. Army veteran whose distinguished military career spanned more than four decades of Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve service. Drafted in 1969, he began his service as a Fixed Station Automatic Digital Network Technical Controller with the 1st Signal Brigade in Phu Lam, Vietnam. He later served in Italy with the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command before transitioning to the New York and Tennessee Army National Guards, where he held key leadership positions, including Communications Chief and Construction Chief. Rising steadily through the ranks, he became a sergeant major in 1987 and graduated from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (Class 37) in 1991.
Throughout his career, CSM Van Pelt held a series of significant senior leadership positions. He served as Command Sergeant Major for multiple major units, including the 242nd Signal Battalion, 1-101st Cavalry Squadron, 187th Signal Brigade, 53rd Troop Command, and the 42nd Infantry Division, one of the most historic formations in the U.S. Army. In 2001, he was appointed Command Sergeant Major of the New York Army National Guard, a position he held until his retirement in 2011. His leadership and mentorship directly impacted thousands of soldiers across New York State, helping to shape the readiness and professionalism of the Guard.
After retiring, CSM Van Pelt continued to serve the military community through several critical roles. He worked as the New York National Guard’s ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) Program Manager and later as a Transition Assistance Advisor, where he supported service members in their transition to civilian life. He has served for over a decade as a leader within the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Capital District Chapter, first as Treasurer, then as Chapter President, and now as First Vice President for Membership. He also serves on AUSA’s national Retiree and Veterans Affairs Committee and is Chairman of the Grants Committee for the National Guard & Naval Militia Relief Society of New York.
A passionate advocate for soldiers and veterans, Van Pelt is a member of the Veterans Business Council of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and serves as the military advisor to Operation Adopt a Soldier, and remains deeply committed to his community. His post-military contributions were recognized with the prestigious 2018 Sergeant Major of the Army William G. Bainbridge Medal for outstanding support to the Noncommissioned Officer Corps and the U.S. Army. A proud “Soldier for Life,” CSM Van Pelt resides in Malta, New York, with his wife Debbie, and continues to inspire through a lifetime of selfless service and steadfast dedication to those who serve.