Chief Warrant Officer Three John A. Quinlan died 18 February 2007 in southeastern Afghanistan when his MH-47E Chinook helicopter, #472, crashed while conducting operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

CW3 Quinlan was born on 26 February 1970 in Morristown, New Jersey. CW3 Quinlan volunteered for service in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Avionics Tech in October 1988. His first duty station was Marine Corps Air Station (MACS) Cherry Point, North Carolina. In 1992, CW3 Quinlan served at MCAS El Toro, California, where he completed eight years of enlisted service. He was accepted into and graduated from the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Program in 1997 at Fort Rucker, Alabama. In 1998, he attended the Aviation Warrant Officer Basic Course and Initial Entry Rotary Wing training.

After completing his CH-47D aircraft qualifications at Fort Rucker, he was assigned as a CH-47D Pilot at Camp Humphreys, Korea, with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment. Upon returning stateside in 2000, he was assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, where he was a CH-47 Pilot and Instructor Pilot. CW3 Quinlan applied and successfully assessed to serve in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) in 2003. He was assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as an MH- 47E Chinook Helicopter Pilot. CW3 Quinlan previously deployed five times in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan and twice in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

CW3 Quinlan’s schools include the C-130 Loadmaster School, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, CH-47 Instructor Pilot Course, Army Maintenance Management Course, Electronic Warfare Officer Course, Special Operations Training Course, and the Warrant Officer Advanced Course.

CW3 Quinlan's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (w/”V Device), Air Medal (w/Numeral 3), Army Commendation Medal (w/3 OLC), Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy “E” Ribbon (Unit Award), Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Navy

Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Combat Action Badge and Senior Army Aviator Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal.

CW3 Quinlan is survived by his wife, Julie; their three daughters: Keely, Madeline and Erin; his father, Robert, and his sister, Susan. He is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 60, Site 8538. The battalion conference room in Eichner Hall on GEN Brown Compound at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, is dedicated in his honor as the Quinlan Conference Room.