Biography

Guy E. Champlin was born in Providence, Rhode Island and grew up in the Riverview section of Warwick, Rhode Island. Guy attended Warwick Veterans Memorial High School. He was an outstanding athlete and was Captain of the wrestling team his senior year. He entered the University of Rhode Island in 1964 and enrolled in the Army ROTC program. Guy was on the wrestling team all four years and Captain of the URI wrestling team in his senior year. Guy was a member of the Phi Mu Delta fraternity. Upon graduation, he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Transportation Corps.

Following attendance at the Transportation Officers’ Basic Course, Fort Eustis, Virginia, Rotary Wing Flight School, Fort Wolters, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama and the Aviation Maintenance Officers Course, Fort Eustis, Virginia, he was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot and Aircraft Maintenance Officer/Test Pilot.

Upon returning from Vietnam, Captain Champlin was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado where he served as the Division Aviation Company’s Maintenance Officer and as the Commander, F Company (Aviation Maintenance), 704th Maintenance Battalion. He then attended the Transportation Officers’ Advanced Course, Fort Eustis, Virginia followed by graduate school. In 1976, Guy was awarded a Master of Science Degree in Procurement and Contract Management from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Captain Champlin was subsequently assigned to the 394th Aviation Maintenance Battalion, Corps Support Command, VII Corps in Nellingen, Germany where he served as Shop Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Commander of B Company. Captain Champlin was selected for early promotion to Major.

In 1979, Major Champlin returned from Germany and attended Command and General Staff College at the Navy War College in Newport, RI. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division where he served as Division Support Command S-3, Executive Officer, 4th Supply and Transportation Battalion and as Deputy G-4. As a Major, he was classified as a multi-functional Army logistician equally qualified in Aviation Logistics, Transportation, Quartermaster and Ordnance. The Army’s priority at the time was to establish the brand new “Division Forward Support Battalions,” so Guy was selected to command a Forward Support Battalion as an Aviation Logistician.

His next assignment was as the Commander, 3rd Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, in Aschaffenburg, Germany as a “Frocked” Major. In June 1986, after 30 months in command, he relinquished command and was assigned to the 200th Theater Army Materiel Management Center, Zweibruecken, Germany where he was the Chief, Aviation Logistics Division and Theater Aviation Maintenance Officer. While in this position, LTC Champlin was selected for attendance to the Army War College and promotion to Colonel. LTC Champlin returned to the United States in June 1988 to attend the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington D.C.

Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Defense Logistics Agency where he served in a joint service assignment at the Defense Supply Depot in Ogden, Utah as the Executive Director of Distribution, promoted to Colonel and then Deputy Commander. Colonel Champlin returned to Zweibruecken, Germany in 1992 where he served as Executive Director of Materiel, 200th TAMMC until his retirement in July 1993.

Colonel Champlin received three graduate degrees or equivalent while in the service; and his military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Bronze Star, Air medal with numeral 14 (2 with “V” for Valor), Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal and the Master Aviator Badge.

Colonel Champlin returned from Germany to Jamestown, Rhode Island and remained there until he moved to Denver, Colorado and accepted a position with the Denver Public School District as Executive Director, Transportation and Support Services/Assistant Chief Operating Officer until his second retirement in January 2007.

Colonel Champlin is married to the former Nancy Louise Williams of Jamestown, RI; and they reside in Denver, Colorado.
Colonel Champlin has spent his entire life serving his community and nation during peace and war. His exemplary devotion to duty, personal bravery and outstanding leadership are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the University of Rhode Island.