RAPID CITY, S.D. - Lonny Hofer, of Rapid City, joined the SDARNG in July of 1974 as a mechanic. In April of 1993, he was appointed as an engineer equipment technician warrant officer and in 2010 he became the state safety officer serving in Joint Force Headquarters.
“By reaching chief warrant officer 5, Mr. Hofer has demonstrated throughout his career that he is among our best and brightest,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Darla Crown, the state command chief warrant officer. “I commend him for his dedication, technical skill, leadership and mentorship.”
Hofer said that while it may have been his promotion ceremony, it was really a promotion of a lot of the efforts of the people he’s worked with over the years.
“From the noncommissioned officers, to my fellow warrant officers, to the officers I’ve served under or served with, whether it was here on Camp Rapid or in Kandahar you all taught me something and I really do appreciate it,” Hofer said to the audience of Soldiers and family members. “I am truly blessed with my wife, we’ve been married more than 30 years and through two deployments, and by our children. Family is very important to me.”
Hofer deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004-2005. He also deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield from 1990-1991 with the 109th Engineer Group.
“Mr. Hofer contributes greatly to our organization, continues to set goals and seek positions of higher responsibility,” said Crown. “His dedication and hard work is reflective of him reaching command chief warrant officer 5.”
Lonny and his wife, Linda, have five grown children: Adam, Michael, Elizabeth, Jonathon and Marianne.