Williams tells Redstone warrant officers: Balance leadership with technical expertise

By Ms. Cherish Washington (AMC)August 11, 2014

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(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARESENAL, Ala. -- The Army's new senior warrant officer visited the U.S. Army Materiel Command and Team Redstone for the first time Aug. 8.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Williams visited the Software Engineering Directorate, the Joint Systems Integration Lab, received an overview of AMC's global alignment and role in supporting the Army mission, and conducted a Leadership Professional Development with warrant officers from across Redstone Arsenal.

Williams described what he saw at Team Redstone as 'on the cutting edge.'

"The civilians in this organization do a wonderful job," Williams said speaking of the continuity and the expertise they provide.

Like similar visits from Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Gen. David G. Perkins, commanding general of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, commanding general of the U.S. Army Forces Command, this visit served as an opportunity to share information and bolster partnerships in support of Army's priorities.

"My vision is the Chief's vision," said Williams during the training session. "If leadership development is priority, then it is our top priority."

With the warrant officers, he discussed training and new educational opportunities.

"Warrant officers will remain the Army's premier technical experts and systems integrators," said Williams. "What we need to do as warrant officers is balance that with leadership. If you are a great leader, that will transcend into great decision making. We cannot afford to be one dimensional in today's Army."

Williams was selected for this new position in mid-March by Odierno. His role is to focus and provide advice on the life-cycle management of warrant officers, training and managing professional military education.

As the Army looks to the future, Williams said he wants his legacy to be the creation of a strategy for warrant officer 2025. The strategy will focus on what the warrant officer will look like nested in the Army 2025 strategy.

"First and foremost, I want to make sure that the warrant officer corps is providing our combatant commanders with quality advice and counsel," Williams said.

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More photos from Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Williams' visit