NY Army National Guard gets new top warrant officer during ceremony this morning, Dec. 19.

LATHAM, NY (12/19/2024) (readMedia)-- The New York Army National Guard will welcome its new top warrant officer during a ceremony this morning, Dec. 19 ceremony at New York Army National Guard headquarters in Latham.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 William J. Solmo, a Brooklyn resident, will be promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 5 and then replace Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mark Shumay, A Greenwich resident, as the New York Army National Guard Command Chief Warrant Officer.

Members of the press are invited to cover this ceremony.

Warrant Officers are technical specialists who fall between non-commissioned officers, i.e. sergeants, and commissioned officers in the Army rank structure.

The Command Chief Warrant Officer is responsible for recruiting and development warrant officers.

Shumay will be returning to full time flight status as a New York Army National Guard aviator after serving in the role for two years.

WHO: Chief Warrant Officer 4, William, J. Solmo; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mark Shumway; Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York and members of the New York National Guard.

WHAT: A promotion ceremony and change of responsibility ceremony. Major General Shields will promote Solmo into the highest warrant officer rank, Chief Warrant Officer 5. Solmo will then officially replace Shumway in the Command Chief Warrant Officer role in a ceremony in which a saber will be passed between the two Soldiers, indicating the acceptance of the responsibility to the command by Solmo.

WHEN: 11 a.m., Thursday. Dec. 19. 2024

WHERE: New York National Guard headquarters, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, NY

Coverage Opportunities

Members of the press can obtain still and video images of the ceremony and Soldiers in formation. Both the incoming and outgoing command chief warrant officers will be available for interviews.

Reporters seeking to cover this event must call the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Public Affairs Office at 518-786-4581 for admission to this secure military facility.