WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Army Reserve's sixth command chief warrant officer assumed his new role during a change of responsibility ceremony held in the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., July 2.
Chief Warrant Officer Five Russell P. Smith, who has 38 years of combined service in intelligence, counterintelligence and technical surveillance, takes the reins from Chief Warrant Officer Five Phyllis J. Wilson, who will continue her service to the Army as a Fellow at the Chief of Staff of the Army's Strategic Studies Group.
"As Command Chief, one of her primary interests has been ensuring that Warrant Officers have the education and assignments they need to advance in their careers and develop as leaders," said Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Jeffrey W. Talley, chief of Army Reserve and commanding general, U.S. Army Reserve Command.
Presiding over the ceremony, Talley described Wilson's dedication to enhancing the growth of Army Reserve Warrant Officers over the past three years. "More Warrant Officers than ever before are better prepared to provide their units and commanders the technical expertise that is the hallmark of their profession," Talley said. "So, as you can see, the Office of the Command Chief Warrant Officer has been, and will continue to be, in exceptionally good hands."
The guidon was passed from Wilson to Smith, signifying the official transfer of responsibility. "Only the very best are selected to become U.S. Army Warrant Officers," said Talley. "And the Command Chief Warrant Officer is the best of the best."
During his speech, Smith thanked Wilson for setting the bar high and allowing him to assume the responsibilities of an already successful office. "I look forward to my new role and my goal is to continue improving the Warrant Officer cohort," Smith said.
Wilson, spoke from the heart on what the past three years have meant to her, taking time to recognize colleagues, friends and loved ones who helped her reach her potential.
The new Command Chief, who most recently served as the deputy commandant of the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College, plans to push the Warrant Officers within the Army Reserve to be the epitome of a professional, technically proficient, and inspirational leaders.
Smith enlisted in the active Army in 1977, serving as an intelligence analyst for eight years before leaving active duty to serve as a civilian counterintelligence special agent with the Army. In 1993, Smith joined the Army Reserve and attended the Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. For the past 22 years, Smith has served in various and increasingly demanding positions in the Army Reserve intelligence community.
Smith's wife, stepchildren and mother were in attendance. He thanked his wife Darlene, who he has been married to since 2001, for taking care of everything at home and allowing him to focus on his career.
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The Army Reserve's mission is to provide trained, equipped, and ready Soldiers and cohesive units to meet global requirements across the full range of military operations. It consists of approximately 200,000 highly-skilled members in 148 career fields providing life-saving and life-sustaining forces for Joint Force operations. For more information about the Army Reserve, visit http://www.usar.army.mil/Pages/default.aspx
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