FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- The U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (Airborne) welcomed a new Command Chief Warrant Officer and said farewell to another during a Change of Responsibility ceremony, here, May 2.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Greenwood, who most recently served in 1st Bn., 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, Ky., took command from Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mark Meyer after Meyer's 18 months in the job.
Brig. Gen. John R. Evans, Jr., commanding general, USASOAC, officiated the ceremony.
"General Evans, I'm especially grateful that you have taken the time today to officiate for Mark and myself," said Greenwood. "When Mark and I were deciding on a range of dates, the key fact was we wanted you to be a part of this ceremony."
In 2000, Greenwood applied, assessed and was selected for assignment to the 160th SOAR where he stayed until 2015. He then was selected and assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's Combat Aviation Brigade as the Command Chief Warrant Officer.
"Command Sgt. Maj. Webb (USASOAC command sergeant major), I'm extremely excited to join the team with you," said Greenwood. "Just two months ago we were over at Fort Campbell talking about this day. So, I look forward to working side-by-side with you as we support the formation of this command.
"I look forward to building relationships over the next years. It's apparent with my few interactions that I've joined a great team of professionals."
During remarks, both Evans and Meyer spoke about the role and evolution of the Warrant Officer Corps.
"Our Warrant Officer Corps has a rich, rich legacy of history and one I'm very proud of," said Evans. "We have come a long way."
Evans also remarked about Meyer's arrival at USASOAC.
"Mark came to the ARSOAC…and demonstrated he was value-added. He did it with humility, with professionalism, and he did it with compassion. I can tell you he was welcomed into the family because of that. He established a great deal of respect."
Meyer said the Army needs warrant officers to lead Soldiers and represent their fellow warrant officers in the field.
"While warrant officers remain the Army's technical and tactical experts in their fields, CW5s have gained more of a leadership role since their origin," said Meyer. "Nowhere else is this more prevalent and important than Special Operations.
"The position (CCWO) has also given warrant officers a voice within the Army," he said.
The CCWO is a rare command position for warrant officers in which the senior chief warrant officer assuming the duty has worked in all major positions that can be held by a warrant officer aviator and is experienced beyond his or her peers.
Generally, the CCWO oversees the training, placement, professional military education, leader development, evaluations, awards, manning and retirements of the warrant officers within the unit.
"Each command team has a different vision for the CCWO role and it is important to develop a standard for this position," said Meyer. "I can't thank Brig. Gen. Evans, Command Sgt. Maj. Helton (USASOAC's previous command sergeant major) and Command Sgt. Maj. Webb enough for having the foresight and vision to allow me to represent the warrants of ARSOAC and giving the warrant officer cohort a voice."
Meyer completed his remarks by welcoming the Greenwood family to the unit and thanking his wife and children for more than three decades of support as he's served. He will assume duties as the CCWO of U.S. Army Special Operations Command in June.
USASOAC organizes, mans, trains, resources and equips Army Special Operations Aviation and serves as USASOC's aviation staff proponent.
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