Webinar: AUSA Thought Leaders Webinar Series – Warrant Officer Panel Discussion by Association of the United States Army

AUSA Thought Leaders Webinar Series – Warrant Officer Panel Discussion

About

AUSA’s Thought Leaders webinar series—an extension of our Thought Leaders podcast— focuses on senior military leaders and contemporary military authors, Thought Leaders seeks to educate the public on critical issues affecting land forces and strategy.

Please join us on Thursday, 8 July 2021 at 1400 to hear a panel on Warrant Officers.

Warrant Officers are critical to successful operations today, and their importance to the mission will increase as the Army transforms. It is imperative that we retain the best talent in our Warrant Officer Cohort across all components, and leverage the roles of our Army National Guard and Reserve warrant officers. Today’s discussion will include warrant officer talent management, to include diversity, equity and inclusion, and accessions and retention. We will also discuss professional military education, and the role of the warrant officer.

WEBINAR ENDED

Presenters

CW5 (Ret) Phyllis Wilson

Chief Wilson began her Army career as a Military Intelligence (MI) German linguist Voice Intercept Operator. During more than 37 years of active and reserve service, she has served at all echelons from tactical to strategic, with duty in Germany, Iraq and the United States. In August 1990, she was mobilized to support OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/ OPERATION DESERT STORM and served as the Signals Intelligence collection manager for XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, NC. In December 2002, she mobilized in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM as a senior Counter Terrorism Analyst. She deployed twice to Iraq with a highly specialized Joint Special Operations Task Force.
Chief Warrant Officer Five (CW5) Phyllis J. Wilson served as the 5th Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) for the United States Army Reserve. She was a key member of the Executive Team managing an organization with an annual operating budget of more than $8 Billion. She completed a Senior Fellowship with the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Strategic Studies Group focused on Global issues 2050 and beyond.
Chief Wilson holds a master’s degree in Management from Webster University, two Bachelor of Science degrees: nursing (registered nurse) and liberal arts (sociology/German) and three Associate of Science degrees. She also holds a certificate in Non-Profit Management from Duke University. She is pursuing a second master’s degree in Public Administration with a Non-Profit Organizations focus. She attended the Defense Language Institute for German and Spanish.
Chief Wilson’s military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary & Service Medals, and the Army Parachutist Badge. She was inducted into the Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame in 2017.
Her non-profit experience includes being the President of the Women in Military Service for America (WIMSA) Memorial Foundation – the only major national memorial honoring all women who have defended America throughout history from the Revolutionary War to today. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Allied Forces Foundation; the Army Women’s Foundation; and the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) Board of Directors. She is also a Senior Fellow at AUSA.
In March 2020, Phyllis was named a Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace Power Player of the Week. View the Video Here.
She has eight children: Joseph, Jeremy, Rebekah, Matthias, Rachel, Jared, Maria and Jesse. Four sons: Joseph, Jeremy, Matthias, and Jared are in the military and are all combat veterans. She has twelve grandchildren and counting!

CW5 Rick Knowlton

Senior Warrant Officer Advisor, Army Talent Management

Born and raised in Maine, Rick Knowlton graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 1991. He received a Master’s in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle in 2006 and is married to the former Wendy Hites of North Dakota. Rick was the Distinguished Honor Graduate of his class at the US Army Flight School in 1995 while his class flew the Army’s first TH-67 Creek helicopters. He also flew the UH-1 Huey and became UH-60 Black Hawk tracked.

His assignments include Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in C Company, 2d Battalion 82d Aviation Regiment, 82d Airborne Division. Here he served as a pilot-in-command and flight lead. Next followed the 236th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) in Landstuhl, Germany. He served as a Supply Officer and then qualified as an instructor pilot, instrument examiner and later selected as the Company Standardization Officer while deployed in 11 European and African countries during this assignment.

Rick Knowlton arrived in Fort Rucker, Alabama, in 2004. His expertise and experience led to his selection as the UH-60 Flight School XXI Standardization Officer for E Company, 1-212th Aviation Regiment. In this capacity, he also became the lead test pilot for the Flight School XXI UH-60 Simulations Program.

At Fort Campbell, Kentucky, he served three combat tours. One as the A/6-101 Company Standardization Pilot (SP) another as the C/6-101 Company SP, returning as the 6-101 BN SP. His last tour was as the 101 CAB SP after being selected for CW5. Rick’s next assignment was with United States Army Africa G3 Air located in Vicenza, Italy where he was responsible for managing aviation operations being conducted by USARAF on the African continent.

CW5 Knowlton was selected to be the Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood Texas. He held this position from May, 2015 until April 2017. He then was assigned to Fort Knox and HRC as the Chief of Aviation Warrant Officer Assignments, responsible for managing the careers of over 5500 aviation warrant officers. In January 2020 Rick moved to Arlington, VA, joining the Army Talent Management Task Force, currently serving as the Senior Warrant Officer Advisor.

CW5 Knowlton is the recipient of the 2010 American Legion Aviator Valor award, Army Aviation Association’s 2007 Trainer of the Year award and Order of Saint Michael (Silver). His awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal (with V Device and numeral device “4”, Army Commendation Medal (with V Device and three Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon(with one Bronze Service Star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Master Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge.

CW5 Yolondria Dixon-Carter

Senior Warrant Officer Advisor to the Chief of Staff, Army

CW5 Yolondria Dixon-Carter is a native of Gifford, Florida. She enlisted in New York in 1989 as a 75E, Personnel Actions Specialist and was appointed as a warrant officer in April 2002.
A few of her assignments as a warrant officer include Chief, Military Personnel Office, Fort Detrick, Maryland; Deputy SGS, Fort Lee, Virginia; G1 Chief, Strength Management, HR Planner/Technician, Assistant Executive Officer to the Brigade Commander and Senior HR Advisor to the 3rd Infantry Division Commanding General and Chief of Staff, Fort Stewart, Georgia; Adjutant/S1 HR Technician for Army South, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; Assistant Executive Officer to the Supreme Allied Commander and the Commander, United States European Command, Detailed Inspector General assigned to the Department of the Army Inspector General, Washington, DC, and Assistant Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, DC. She is currently serving as the Assistant Executive Officer (AXO) and Senior Warrant Officer Adviser to the Chief of Staff of the Army (SWOA2CSA), Washington, DC.

CW5 Dixon-Carter’s deployments include Operation Just Cause, Panama, 1990; Operation Restore Hope, Somalia, 1993 and1994; Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq, 2007-2008; Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn, Iraq, 2009-2010.

She is a graduate of the Warrant Officer Senior Service Education and Warrant Officer Intermediate Level Education Courses, Adjutant General Warrant Officer Basic and Advance Courses, 42A Advance and Basic Noncommissioned Officer Courses, and the Warrior Leaders Course, as well as various other military courses. She was awarded a Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice Forensics Science and Psychology from Saint Leo University.
CW5 Dixon-Carter’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal (2nd award), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (8th award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4th award), Army Achievement Medal (5th award), Humanitarian Service Medal, Meritorious Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 4), the Combat Action Badge and Air Assault Badge, as well as various other service medals and ribbons.

She is married and has two children and three grandchildren.

CW5 Patrick Nelligan

Command Chief Warrant Officer, United States Army Reserve

Chief Warrant Officer Five Pat Nelligan assumed responsibilities as the 8th U.S. Army Reserve Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) on 31 May 2021. As the Army Reserve Command Chief Warrant Officer, CW5 Nelligan serves as the senior warrant officer advisor to the USARC CG, Headquarters staff, and subordinate elements, on all matters affecting talent management, professional development, and quality of life of Army Reserve warrant officers.

Prior to nomination as the USAR Command Chief Warrant Officer, CW5 Nelligan held several senior leadership positions including the Command Chief Warrant Officer at the Army Reserve Medical Command, United States Army Reserve from June 2018 to April 2021. As the ARMEDCOM CCWO, CW5 Nelligan served as both the senior warrant officer advisor to the Commanding General of ARMEDCOM, and was responsible for all Army Reserve Warrant Officers within the Army Reserve Medical Command. Previous to this, CW5 Nelligan served as the 2nd Command Chief Warrant Officer of the 75th Innovations Command, United States Army Reserve from July 2015 to September 2018, Special Mission Warrant Officer Accessions Chief, ARCD from February 2015 to July 2015, 2nd Command Chief Warrant Officer of the 81st Regional Support Command (RSC) from March 2012 to February 2015, Supply and Service Officer (S4) for the 405th Combat Support Hospital from October 2010 to March 2012, Officer in Charge of the Northeast Region for the Strength Management Initiative Task Force and 1st Command Chief Warrant Officer of the 804th Medical Brigade from October 2008 to September 2010, and the 2nd Command Chief Warrant Officer of 94th Regional Readiness Command from 1 February 2006 until its deactivation on 30 September 2008.

CW5 Nelligan enlisted in the Army in March 1982, completing Basic Training and Field Artillery Cannon Crewman (OSUT) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was assigned to the 3/35th Field Artillery (8” self propelled) West Germany, where he served as an Advanced Party, Gun Driver, and Battery Commander’s Driver. He left active duty in 1984 and joined the 340th General Hospital and was sent to the United States Army Medical Equipment and Optical School, Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center to become a medical equipment repairman from which he completed both the basic and advanced courses and was named honor graduate. He has served in Honduras and Guatemala providing medical equipment maintenance support to each respective taskforce. In June of 1990 he was appointed as a WO1, Health Services Maintenance Technician in July 1990 and was assigned to the 819th Station Hospital which converted to the 405th Combat Support Hospital in 1992. He was activated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and deployed to Kuwait in 2002. His assignments included Property Book Officer, Supply and Services Officer, and Unit Logistician (Forward).

CW5 Nelligan has completed the Brigade Pre-Command Course, Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course, Warrant Officer Staff Course, Officer Advanced Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Medical Logistics Management Course, Medical X-Ray Survey Techniques Course, Health Services Maintenance Technician Course, US Customs Border Agent Course, and United States Department of Agriculture Food Inspector Training Course.

CW5 Nelligan’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster , Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Gold Hourglass and with “M” Device, Noncommissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, , Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon with Numeral 2 , Driver Badge with Driver-W Bar..

CW5 Nelligan received an Associates Degree in Biomedical Equipment Maintenance, two Bachelor’s Degrees; one in Applied Behavioral Studies and the other in Liberal Studies, and a Masters in Business Administration with a Health Care Concentration.
CW5 Nelligan resides in Bristol Connecticut with his wife Nancy. They have three adult children, daughter Darby, son Thomas (who is an SMP Minute Man Scholarship recipient and Army Reservist), and son Owen. CW5 Nelligan is also is employed by the Veterans Administration where he works as the Lead Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) onsite at the Newington Connecticut campus.

CW5 Teresa A. Domeier

Command Chief Warrant Officer, Army National Guard

The Director of the Army National Guard appointed CW5 Teresa A. Domeier the 7th Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) of the Army National Guard (ARNG) on 30 June 2018. As the CCWO, ARNG CW5 Domeier serves as the Senior Warrant Officer Advisor to the Director, Army National Guard on all matters pertaining to policies, programs, and actions concerning the warrant officer cohort across the 54 states, territories, and District of Columbia. Some warrant officer topics include professional development, promotions, assignments, incentives, morale, discipline, performance, strength and, recruiting and retention programs. Prior to her appointment, CW5 Domeier served as the 5th Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Nebraska Army National Guard.

CW5 Domeier began her career in the Nebraska National Guard in 1983 as an Administrative Specialist with the 67th Movement Enhancement Brigade. In 1984 she transferred to State Area Command (STARC) HQ to serve as a Food Service Technician and an assistant to the State Food Service Advisor. She completed Warrant Officer Candidate School on June 6, 1995 and appointed to the rank of WO1.

As the CCWO for Nebraska, CW5 Domeier was instrumental in developing the state Warrant Officer Career Management Board (WOCMB). She established the Junior Warrant Officers Mentorship Program (JWOMP) to further develop and provide depth to the Warrant Officer Cohort. She served as the region 5 CCWO Chair for the Warrant Officer Senior Advisory Council Executive Committee from 2016-2018, representing the State CCWOs of region 5 at the national level. In this capacity, she worked with Army proponents resulting in a 90% Warrant Officer Candidate Predetermination Packet approval rate. CW5 Domeier’s 20-year Food Service Technician career began as the Food Service Advisor assigned to the 67th
Movement Enhancement Brigade. She served as Nebraska’s Philip A. Connelly Evaluator
and as the National Representative on the Executive Advisory Group for Logistics Excellence
(EAGLE) from 2008-2013, representing the food service community for all 54 States, Territories, and the District of Columbia.

CW5 Domeier served as the Senior/Primary TAC Officer, and later, as the Deputy Commandant for the Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) at the Regional Training
Institute at Camp Ashland, Nebraska and was instrumental in the implementation of the
WOCS program in Nebraska. Additionally, CW5 Domeier deployed in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom where she served as the Base Food Service Officer to Al Asad Base, Iraq from
September 2005 to September 2006.

CW5 Domeier has been married to her husband David for over 34 years. Together, they
own a small acreage in Nebraska.

CW5 Jonathan Yerby

Senior Warrant Officer Advisor US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM)

CW5 Yerby is a native of Stockton, California where he entered the United States Army in 1986 and accessed into the Warrant Officer Corps in 1994.

CW5 Jonathan Yerby’s, most recent assignment was as the 6th Command Chief Warrant Officer for Combined Arms Support Command, Fort Lee, Virginia. Prior to that assignment he was the 14th Regimental Chief Warrant Officer of the Quartermaster Corps, Fort Lee, Virginia. His previous assignments in order of service from oldest to most recent include 5th Forward Support Battalion, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Polk, Louisiana; HHC I CORPS, Fort Lewis, Washington; 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, Hohenfels, Germany; 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Tactical Exploitation), Fort Hood, Texas; 303rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Operations), Fort Hood, Texas; 3rd Training Support Brigade (AC/RC) Devens, Massachusetts; 194th Maintenance Battalion, Camp Humphreys, Korea; 528th Special Operations Support Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina; 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina; 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina; HQ, United States Army Special Operations Command (Airborne), G4 (Sensitive Activities), Fort Bragg, North Carolina; 401st Army Field Support Brigade, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. While in these assignments, Chief Warrant Officer Five Yerby served as a Unit Supply Clerk, Unit Armorer, Supply Sergeant, squad leader, platoon sergeant, Battalion S4, Brigade S4, Task Force J4, Troop Commander, Property Book Officer at Battalion, Brigade, Group and Theater level, Brigade Senior Warrant Officer Advisor, Staff Officer, Chief of Policy and Compliance, Command Property Accountability Technician and Regimental Chief Warrant Officer of the Quartermaster Corps.

CW5 Yerby’s education includes: Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Standard Property Book System - Redesigned, Warrant Officer Candidate School, Warrant Officer Basic Course for Property Book Technician, Airborne School, Department of Defense Emergency Preparedness Course, Warrant Officer Advanced Course, Department of Defense High Risk Survival Course, Warrant Officer Staff Course, Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course. Senior Leader Seminar. He holds an associate’s degree in General Studies from Pierce College, Washington.
CW5 Yerby’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal (#2), National Defense Service Medal (2 OLC), Southwest Asia Service Medal (2 Stars), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 stars), Iraq Campaign Meritorious Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (#3), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Distinguished Order of Saint Martin, Parachutist Badge.

BG Jack Haley, U.S. Army (Retired)

AUSA's Vice President of Membership and Meetings

Full name*

Email Address*

Mil Rank/Civ Salutation*

✓ US Army Retired?

AUSA Membership Number

Company Name/Military Duty Assignment*

Country*

State/Province*

City*