Jack V. Mackmull was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam War, he served from 1950 to 1984 and attained the rank of lieutenant general. Mackmull's commands included the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, 101st Airborne Division, and XVIII Airborne Corps, and he was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit (4), and Distinguished Flying Cross (4).

The United States Army Aviation Branch is a army aviation branch of the United States Army and the administrative organization that is responsible for doctrine, manning and configuration for all army aviation units. This branch was formerly considered to be one of the combat arms branches, but is today included within the "Maneuver, Fires and Effects" (MFE) classification, in accordance with current U.S. Army organizational doctrine.