PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command inducted its first command chief warrant officer, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Wesley Klees, during an investiture ceremony Sept. 12.
The commanding general sanctioned the newly established position of command chief warrant officer in September 2018. Klees was chosen as the most qualified candidate to be a part of the SMDC command team responsible for leading the command’s warrant officers to successfully execute and accomplish daily assignments and tasks in support of SMDC’s worldwide mission.
“Today, we officially welcome CW5 Klees and his wife Rhonda to the command,” Lt. Gen. James Dickinson, SMDC commander, said. “With his 18 years of experience as a warrant officer, Chief Klees is going to apply his deep knowledge of the roles, responsibilities and development needs of the 40 warrant officers in this command.
“He will provide exemplary leadership to our warrant officers ensuring they are serving at the highest standards of the Warrant Officer Corps, and that they have the professional development necessary to achieve that,” said Dickinson.
“Wes and Rhonda, I am very pleased to welcome you to the SMDC team. I’m looking forward to the great leadership you bring to our warrant officer cohort,” Dickinson said.
As the narrator published the orders, Dickinson presented the CCWO charter to Klees.
“I am honored to represent our warrant officers and the entire command as your command chief warrant officer,” Klees said. “I would like to thank Lt. Gen. Dickinson for the opportunity to serve the command in this capacity.
“My pledge to all of you is to represent this command, the warrant officers, and the Army in an exemplary manner that is worthy of the service and the sacrifices of the many Soldiers, civilians and families that make this command the great success it is today.
“I look forward to collaborating with senior leaders across the command and the Army to ensure warrant officer talent management and utilization enhances operational readiness in support of our core mission. Most of all I look forward to meeting all of the great warrant officers throughout the command and together enriching our capability through improved professional development and talent management.”