Photo By Patrick Buffett | Brig. Gen. Rodney D. Fogg, 54th Quartermaster General, passes the QM Corps Warrant...... read more read more
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FORT LEE, Va. (Nov. 24, 2016) -- Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jonathan O. Yerby became the 14th Regimental Chief Warrant Officer of the Army Quartermaster Corps during a change of responsibility ceremony Friday in Mullins Auditorium, Challen Hall. He replaced CW5 Roberto L. Figueroa, who is retiring after 28 years of service.
Hailing from Stockton, Calif, Yerby started his Army career in 1986 as an enlisted supply specialist. Since then, he has served with numerous deployment-capable organizations including the 5th Infantry Division, Fort Polk, La.; the 4th Infantry Regiment, Hohenfels, Germany; the 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Tactical Exploitation), Fort Hood, Texas; and the Special Operations and Special Forces groups, Fort Bragg, N.C.; among others. Yerby has a significant amount of deployed experience as well after supporting special operations missions in various locations around the world including Afghanistan and Iraq.
“He is, without a doubt, the right person in the right place at the right time to serve as our (RCWO),” noted Brig. Gen. Rodney D. Fogg, QM General, who presided over the ceremony. “Chief Yerby comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience … and I have no doubt it will be of great benefit to our corps and its warrant officer cohort.”
In remarks at the ceremony, Fogg also praised the accomplishments of Figueroa, noting how he lived up to the vision of the 38th QM General, Maj. Gen. Eugene Stillions Jr., who recognized the significance of the warrant officer program and created the corps’ RCWO position back in the mid-1980s.
“He knew the (regimental warrant) would be at the fingertips of the QM general with the most current information pertaining to logistics, and he or she would work the progression of the warrant officer career field,” Fogg said. “He or she would be involved in the development of new logistical concepts for training and education, and would shape the future of the QM Corps and warrant officer contingent.”
Figueroa’s accomplishments later cited by Fogg included a 40-percent increase in QM Reserve Component warrant officer applications, more educational opportunities for the corps’ senior warrants, and greater recognition (promotion rates higher than any other Army career branch) of QM warrants who serve in instructor positions.
“Chief Figueroa has led this corps and its warrants just as Maj. Gen. Stillions envisioned it,” Fogg said. “He felt the pulse of the corps, and always understood the Army’s logistical challenges. He bears the operational scars and battle wounds of someone who fought to make a difference in training and procedural concepts. He has improved our readiness and our ability to win on the battlefield. And he always did it with extreme poise, strength of character and dedication. For that, I thank you, chief.”
Saying his goodbyes to the QM Corps and Team Lee, Figuero acknowledged the support of his family and senior installation leaders including Fogg and Maj. Gen. Darrell K. Williams, CASCOM and Fort Lee commanding general, who attended the event with his spouse, Myra.
“I am forever thankful to have had this opportunity to serve a force of 3,000-plus warrant officers throughout (the QM) field,” Figueroa said. “This has definitely been the most challenging and yet rewarding job I had to execute throughout my military career. I could not have done it without the love, support and mentorship of so many people in this room and elsewhere. Thank you for assisting me every step of the way.”
Offering congratulations to Yerby, Figueroa expressed satisfaction in leaving his position in the hands of an individual with “great character and vast operational experience.
“Just remember, your main goal is to take care of our warrant officers,” Figueroa advised. “It is all about them and the future of our Army. Take care of your Soldiers and the rest will take care of itself.”
Closing the ceremony, Yerby summed up the significance of the moment for him saying, “Gen. Fogg, thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to working together to ensure our QM warrant officers are agile and innovative leaders; that they are ready to fight and win on the complex battlefields of today and tomorrow. I am honored and humbled to serve as the 14th Quartermaster Regimental Chief Warrant Officer.”
| Date Taken: | 11.23.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.23.2016 15:34 |
| Story ID: | 215754 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 224 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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