An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | Dec. 10, 2015

First-ever senior warrant officer advisor to the Army staff visits U.S. Army South headquarters

U.S. Army South Public Affairs

The U.S. Army  warrant officers celebrated their 97th birthday July 9 and after nearly 100 years of warrant officers’ dedicated service to the nation, the Chief of Staff of the Army appointed Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Williams as the first Army senior chief warrant officer advisor “single voice” to the Army staff.

The advisory position strictly focuses on warrant officers professional military education, life cycle management of warrant officers, technical training and proper leader development for nearly 27,000 warrant officers across the Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve.

Williams had the opportunity to visit senior leaders from the major Army commands on Fort Sam Houston Nov. 19, including U.S. Army South. His strategic message to the senior leaders was to tell the story on where the Army warrant officer’s cohort is heading.

During his meeting with Army South warrant officers and senior leaders, Williams stressed the importance of a strong relationship between warrant officers and their counterparts, noncommissioned officers and officers. 

“Warrant officers are highly specialized officers,” Williams said. “They are self-aware and adaptive combat leaders, trainers, staff officers and advisors. Warrant officers are competent and confident warriors, innovative integrators of emerging technologies, dynamic teachers and developers of specialized teams of Soldiers.”

Williams also discussed the benefits of creating a senior chief warrant officer position at the command level to look after all warrant officers in the command.

“As long as the right person is selected for the position, I believe it will add value to your commander,” Williams said.

According to Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kelly Bonds, Army South logistics planner, the benefit of the update to warrant officers and senior leaders was priceless. As a result, Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn, Army South commanding general, has decided to establish his own command/senior warrant officer advisory position in the near future.

“The position will have instant impact for Army South to have a single voice, warrant officer management, professional development, senior mentorship, warrant officer integration and a champion leading the way for the Strategic Plan 2025,” said Bonds.

Williams’ visit and his message was clear that the warrant officer cohort has come a long way, however, there is still much work to be done to achieve the strategic vision of 2025.