NY Army National Guard recognizes new Command Chief Warrant Officer on Wednesday, Feb. 28

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Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jackie O'Keefe

LATHAM, NY (02/27/2018) (readMedia)-- The New York Army National Guard's new Command Chief Warrant Officer will be recognized in a formal ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, Feb 28 at Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters here.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jacqueline O'Keefe, a Berne resident will replace Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeffrey Schirmer, a Rochester resident, as the Command Chief Warrant Officer. Schirmer, who has served as Command Chief Warrant Officer since 2016, is retiring after more than 36 years in the military.

Warrant Officers are technical experts who fall between sergeants and commissioned officers in the Army's command structure. The Command Chief Warrant Officer is responsible to the commander of on issues involving warrant officer recruitment and training.

WHO: New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officers Jeffrey Schirmer and Jacqueline "Jackie" O'Keefe and Major General Anthony German, the Adjutant General of New York.

WHAT: Change of responsibility ceremony in which O'Keefe assumes the responsibility for overseeing the New York Army National Guard's warrant officer program from Schirmer. Schirmer will transfer a ceremonial saber to German, who will then pass the saber to O'Keefe, signifying the change in responsibility for the New York Army National Guard warrant officer program.

WHEN: 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018

WHERE: Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham.

Coverage Opportunities:

Interviews with the principles and video and still imagery of the traditional passing of an Army saber to indicate the change of responsibility, as well as video of Soldiers and Airmen in formation.

For access to this secure military facility members of the media must contact the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Public Affairs Office at 518-786-4581.

BACKGROUND:

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jacqueline O'Keefe

Chief Warrant Officer Five Jacqueline A. O'Keefe enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 1983 as a personnel specialist. She served as an enlisted Soldier, reaching the rank of Sgt. 1st Class, until August 1995 when she was appointed as a Warrant Officer 1 served as a military personnel technician.

She's served in a number of New York Army National Guard units to include the 27th Rear Area Operations Center, the 53rd Troop Command, the 42nd Infantry Division, and Joint Force Headquarters. She has served as Officer Personnel Management Branch Chief, Active Guard and Reserve Branch Chief, and Warrant Officer Strength Manager.

O'Keefe is a graduate of the Warrant Officer Senior Service Education Course, the Warrant Officer Intermediate Level Education Course, and the Adjutant General Warrant Officer Basic and Advanced Courses.

She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University.

Her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, and National Defense Medal with one Bronze Star, Armed Forced Reserved Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and National Guard Recruiter Badge.

O'Keefe resides in Berne, N.Y. with her husband Brian, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve.

She has three sons: Master Sgt. Brian O'Keefe Jr., who serves in the Army's Special Operations Command; 1st Lt. Bradley O'Keefe, a graduate of the United States Military Academy, who serves in the 101st Air Assault Division; and Cpl. Brenden O'Keefe, who is assigned to the New York National Guard's 173rd Cyber Protection Team.

Her daughter Brooke, attends Greenville Central High School.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeffrey Schirmer:

New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Schirmer, a Leicester resident and a veteran of two wars, joined the New York Army National Guard in 1982.

Schirmer will serve as the Command Chief Warrant Officer for the New York Army National Guard, responsible for recruiting warrant officers to fill the 286 positions in the New York Army National Guard and overseeing warrant officer training.

Schirmer served as an enlisted Soldier, reaching the rank of Sgt 1st Class, before becoming a Warrant Officer in 1998.

Prior to his selection as Command Chief Warrant Officer, Schirmer served for 34 years as a dual-status federal technician in charge of the New York National Guard's Combined Support Maintenance Shop. Technicians are federal employees who support the National Guard and must also serve in the National Guard as a condition of employment.

As a Guard Soldier he has served as Electronics Platoon Sergeant in the 134th Maintenance Company; the Electronics Platoon Leader, Logistical Maintenance office for Headquarters Company of the 42nd Infantry Division, and Electronic Maintenance Officer in the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, and Logistical Maintenance Officer for New York National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters.

Schirmer deployed to Iraq in 2005 as Logistical Maintenance Officer for the 42nd Infantry Division. He also served in Saudi Arabia and Iraq in 1990/1991 during Operation Desert Storm.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the Global War on Terror Service Medal.

Schirmer and his wife Maureen have two daughters and three grandchildren.