Wil was also a member of a group of nine jumpers who made a World Record-making jump from 43,500 feet. An extraordinary achievement at the time. Wil was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group when he concluded his military career.

Throughout his long career in civil service, Wil had both domestic and international postings. He was a CIA Paramilitary Case Officer in Laos and Thailand, Chief of a Laotian Irregular Paramilitary Unit, a Foreign Intelligence Officer in Ethiopia, Deputy Chief of Station in Accra, Ghana, started the CIA station in Swaziland, Southern Africa, and was Chief of Station in both Swaziland and Kampala, Uganda.

After receiving his Master Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies, Wil became Chief of the CIA's Counter Terrorist Center which included the Foreign Liaison Training group and the Terrorist Response Team (IRT). His final posting before retiring on November 29, 1996 was at US Special Operations Command at MacDill AFB in Florida.

• Received the US Parchuting Association (USPA) Gold Wings for making 1000 Free Fall Jumps
• Author of the USPA Publication, "Jumping in the Troposhere"
• Distinguished Flying Cross from the Department of Defense
• Diplomatic Service includes Commissions as a Foreign Service and Consular Officer & Secretary
• Participated in the Director of Central  Intelligence Management Seminar to explore problems with Senior CIA Officials (one-year term)
• Director of the Special Opeartions Memorial Foundation
• Donovan Award for Excellence (CIA)
• Career Intelligence Medal for Exceptional Achievement
• Twice Awarded the Director of Intelligence Award for Exceptional Service while under Conditions of Hazard and Hardship
• Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service

Sources: www.stratoquest.com and the Recollections of Friends
Written by Regina A. Hudson

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Wil leaves behind a loving family, including wife, Amy, many staunch friends, and many wonderful memories.

Wil Charette, one of the pioneers of the US Army Parachute Team (USAPT), died at his home in Tampa, FL on May 9, 2010. Wil, a native of Rhode Island, had a long and illustrious military & civil career. After 11 years in the military, more than 30 years in civil service and a decade+ as a consultant, Wil's final resting place is Arlington Cemetary in Washington, DC.

Wil was a member of the 508th Airborne Regimental Combat Team (ARCT), 11th Abn, 101st Abn, 1st Cavalry, Special Forces, the USAPT and much more.  During the late 1950's while based in Ft Campbell, KY, his parachuting skills captured the attention of commanders in STRAC (Strategic Army Corps).  Tasked to participate in the newly-formed, STRAC competition and demonstration teams, Wil's contributions would help lead to the formation of the USAPT, and to his selection as one of its original members.

• 1953 - 1964   Military Service
• 1959 - 1961   STRAC Parachute Team
• 1961 - 1961   Trained the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment in MFF
• 1961 - 1962   US Army Parachute Team
• 1962 - 1964   Joint Army/USAF Halo Test Team
• 1964 - 1996   Civil Service in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
• 1964 - 1974   Posted to US CIA Headquaters, then Laos & Thailand
• 1974 - 1979   Assigned to Ethiopia & Ghana
• 1979 - 1982   Chief of Station in Swaziland (COS)
• 1982 - 1984   COS in Kampala, Uganda
• 1984 - 1985   Received Masters from US Naval War College
• 1985 - 1992   Chief, Counter Terrorist Center
• 1992 - 1994   Deputy Chief, Office of Field Deployment
• 1994 - 1996   DCI Representative at US Special Operations

Awards, Special Recognition & Other Noteworthy Items about Wil Charette

In 1960, the US Army conducted its first official tests of the parachuting technique known as HALO (High Altitude Low Opening.  The Army quickly recognized its strategic possibilities, and formed a committee to further investigate its uses. Wil was the first Non-Commissioned Officer-in-Charge (NCOIC) of the Special Forces HALO Committee.

Wil's participation with the HALO Test Program led to training and operational standards which are still in use today, and also earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross from the Department of Defense.

His contributions to parachuting were not confined to the US Army.  He was a member of the Joint Army/USAF HALO Test Team in the early 1960s. In 1961, Wil was selected to train some of the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment in Hereford, England. The training included the art of Military Free Fall (MFF) parachuting.