Fort Novosel, Ala. (WDNews) In accordance with Department of the Army General Orders 2025-18, the U.S. Army has started the formal process of renaming Fort Novosel back to Fort Rucker. This directive was released on June 16.
The action follows President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would be reversing the naming of six additional military stations nationwide that were renamed during the Biden administration. During Trump’s speech at Fort Bragg in North Carolina last week, Fort Novosel in Dale County, Alabama, was one of the sites chosen for rechristening.
Captain Edward W. Rucker, a Missourian who flew in World War I and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his valor on a mission in France, will now be honored with the installation.
There was more to Captain Rucker than just flying. Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, commanding general of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, described him as a warrior, an aviation pioneer, and an example of the bravery that characterizes Army Aviation. The brave will and audacious vision that every Army aviator must possess are just as much a part of his legacy as the skies he conquered.
Maj. Gen. Gill stated that the renaming will not impact the installation’s continued honoring of Medal of Honor recipient and former Enterprise resident Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Novosel Sr., who was honored in 2023 when the post was called Fort Novosel.
CW4 According to Gill, the history of this installation will always remember Mike Novosel’s valor in combat, his steadfast devotion, and his dedication to the goal. His legacy continues to stand as an example of greatness that we want our future pilots to aspire to.
Confederate Col. Edmund Rucker inspired the naming of the first Fort Rucker. Currently, however, military installations cannot be named after Confederate leaders due to federal legislation. According to Trump administration officials, in order to restore previous post names while adhering to the law, they are choosing new awardees with comparable last names.
At the moment, all of the installation’s materials and signage are being updated. A formal renaming ceremony is scheduled for a date to be announced soon, according to officials.
