National Guard Bureau

Story by Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke

ARLINGTON, Va. – Gen. Craig R. McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, announced, Nov. 19, the selection of a new senior enlisted leader for the National Guard Bureau.

Chief Master Sgt. Denise Jelinski-Hall of the Hawaii Air National Guard will be the third senior enlisted leader assigned to the Office of the Chief, National Guard Bureau. She will be responsible for advising McKinley on enlisted affairs of the 457,000 Soldiers and Airmen of the Army and Air National Guard.

"This was a very tough decision, because of all the very well-qualified candidates who applied for this position," McKinley said. "Chief Jelinski-Hall will be a welcome addition to my staff."

Jelinski-Hall began her Air Force career in 1984 as an air traffic control operator at Offutt Air Force, Neb. Four years later, she transferred to the communications field and the California Air National Guard.

She joined the Hawaii Guard in 1990 and became the command chief master sergeant for the 154th Wing at Hickam Air Force Base in 2004. Before coming to NGB, she was the senior enlisted leader, which is a joint position, for the Hawaii Guard.

"We are very proud of Chief Jelinski-Hall's selection as the senior enlisted leader for the National Guard Bureau," said Army Maj. Gen. Bob Lee, the adjutant general of the Hawaii National Guard. "She has accomplished many things in her 25-year career, and she will continue to excel at the national level. She will represent our Soldiers and Airmen extremely well."

McKinley made the announcement to hundreds of general officers and other senior Guard leaders at the Joint Senior Leadership Conference being held at the Gaylord Hotel on National Harbor outside of Washington this week.

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