Colonel Colin W. McKenzie was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 13 November 1952, Class Number 36. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, and Battalion S-4, company e, 508 ARCT, Fort Benning, Georgia. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Platoon Leader, Company K, 187 ARCT, AFFE; Assistant, Headquarters, 3d Battalion, 187 ARCT, AFFE; Company Executive Officer, Company K, 187 ARCT AFFE; Assistant Operations Officer, 3d Aviation Company, 3d Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia; Operations and Training Officer/Combat Support Flight Commander/Direct Support Platoon Commander, 24th Avn Company, 24th Infantry Division, Europe; Company Commander, Company C, 504th BG, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Aviation Plans and Operations Officer, Headquarters XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg; Aviations Plans and Operations Officer, Headquarters U.S. Army Pacific, Hawaii; Deputy Brigade Commander and Commander, Headquarters 2d Brigade, U.S. Army Training Command, Fort Bliss, Texas; Commander Headquarters, 307th Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Avn Brigade, Republic of Vietnam; Directorate XO, Headquarters DA, Army Chief of Staff Electronics Communications; Director, Material Developments Department, Deputy for Developments, U.S. Army Aviation Center, Fort Rucker, Alabama. | His awards and decorations include: Master Aviator Badge, Senior Parachute Badge, General Staff Identification Badge, Republic of Vietnam GC (2 Bronze Stars), Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (2 Silver Stars), Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (4 Palms), Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal (21 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster), Distinguished Flying Cross (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Legion of Merit (Oak Leaf Cluster).