Chief Warrant Officer Three Stephen R. Dwyer, Jr. was born on 13 September 1985. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Leadership and Management in 2009. Following graduation, he attended Field Artillery Officer Basic Leader Course and served as a Field Artillery Commissioned Officer for six years as a Fire Support Officer, Platoon Leader, Assistant Operations Officer, and Battery Commander. He served as U.S. Military Academy Athletics Operations Officer at West Point, New York, prior to reappointing to Warrant Officer and attending Flight School.

In 2018, CW3 Dwyer graduated as a UH-72A / UH-60M Black Hawk Pilot and was assigned to Charlie Company, 5-101st Combat Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, from 2018-2021. He served as a UH-60M Pilot-in-Command, Mission Planner, and Instructor Pilot. In 2022, he favorably assessed for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). He completed Officer Combat Skills in 2023 and was assigned as an MH-60M Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) Pilot in Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR(Abn), where he served as a Mission Planner.

CW3 Dwyer deployed to Iraq in support of Operation NEW DAWN, deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation FREEDOM SENTINEL, and supported several no-notice deployments world-wide in support of national security objectives.

CW3 Dwyer’s military education includes the Basic Officer Leader Course; Field Artillery Officer Basic Course; Field Artillery Captains Career Course; M109A6 Paladin Drivers Course; Ranger School; Warrant Officer Orientation; UH-72A Aviator Qualification Course; Aviation Warrant Officer Basic Course; Aviation Tactical Operations Officer Course; Officer Combat Skills; Combatives Level 1; MH-60M Basic Mission Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course; and the UH-60 Instructor Pilot Course.

CW3 Dwyer’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (w/C Device), Army Commendation Medal (w/2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (w/1 OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (w/1 Bronze Service Star), Iraq Campaign Medal ( w/ 1 Bronze Service Star), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (w/Numeral 1), NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Ranger Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and was inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Michael for significant contributions to the Army Aviation Community.

CW3 Dwyer died when MH-60M Black Hawk, (DAP) tail #490, crashed into the Mediterranean Sea during a training mission on 10 November 2023.

He is survived by his wife, Allie; sons, Landon, Duke, and Brody; his parents, Stephen, Sr., and Gail; his brothers, Chris and Tim; and his sister, Maria.