Brigadier General Butler began his military career in 1968 with the US Army. He completed US Army Rotary Wing training at Ft. Wolters, Texas and Ft. Rucker, Alabama and, after transition to the CH-47, was assigned to the 196th Assault Support Helicopter Company and the 243rd Assault Support Helicopter Company, Republic of Vietnam, where he logged over 700 combat flight hours. He returned to Ft Rucker after his tour in the Republic of Vietnam as a CH-47 Flight Instructor. He later joined the 146th Medical Evacuation Company, West Virginia National Guard, flying the UH-1, in January 1972. He was commissioned in the West Virginia Air National Guard in 1974 and earned his Air Force pilot wings at Vance AFB, Oklahoma in 1975. His aviation career includes more than 5,100 flying hours, primarily in the C-130. His distinguished service with the 130th Airlift Wing included assignments with the 1630th Provisional Wing, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Southwest Asia and as a C-130 Flight Instructor/Evaluator.
Assignments at Headquarters, Air National Guard included Airlift Scheduler; Director, ANG Contingency Support; Air Operations Officer; Chief, Air Operations Center; C-130 Program Element Monitor; and Chief, Mobility Forces Branch and Air National Guard Advisor to Air Force Programs.
His last assignment was Commander and Chief of Staff, West Virginia Air National Guard. The West Virginia Air National Guard has over 2,000 members and consists of two flying units, the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, WV, flying the C-130, and the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg, WV, flying the C-5 aircraft. As Commander and Chief of Staff, he provided command and control over all ANG forces assigned to the State and was the principal advisor to the Adjutant General on all matters related to the Air National Guard.
Fixed Wing Aircraft flown: C-130, C-22, T-37, T-38
Rotary Wing Aircraft Flown: OH-23, UH-1, OH-58, CH-47