INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana National Guard promoted its state command chief to chief warrant officer 5 during a ceremony Friday.
Amid friends, family and fellow Hoosier Guardsman, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Elizabeth Keene commented on what it means to be a leader in her nearly 40-year military career.
“Be a mentor, guide your soldiers. Be a role model, someone they can look up to. Show them their potential and help them reach it,” said Keene in her speech. “Emulate the best in your leaders and vow to never do the things that you wish you could change in them.”
As the senior warrant officer in the Indiana National Guard, Keene advises the adjutant general, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, on Army and warrant officer related issues.
Umbarger said the state command warrant officer's office had developed into an integral asset since its inception in 2003 and that Keene’s promotion is a historic event.
“Today, we’re going to promote our first female to command chief warrant officer in the state of Indiana, and that’s why it’s a historic day,” said Umbarger.
Keene, a Gary, Ind.-native, accepted the senior warrant officer role in January. Keene started her military career as an enlisted supply soldier in 1977, and she joined the warrant officer corps in 1996.
In 2009, Keene deployed with Shelbyville, Ind., based, 38th Combat Aviation Brigade to Iraq. She’s garnered more than 20 awards and medals including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Indiana Distinguished Service Medal, and the Indiana Commendation Medal.