NY National Guard Command Chief Warrant Officer Robert Wold, a Ballston Lake resident, turns over duties

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Chief Warrant Officer Robert Wold ( left) passes a ceremonial saber to Major General Anthony German, the Adjutant General, during cermonies on Dec. 9

LATHAM, NY (12/09/2016)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Robert Wold, a Ballston Lake resident and a veteran of the Iraq War, turned over the duties of Command Chief Warrant Officer of the New York Army National Guard to Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Schirmer, during a ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters on Friday, Dec. 9.

Warrant Officers are technical specialists who fall in between the Army's non-commissioned officers, known as sergeants, and the commissioned officer corps.

As Command Chief Warrant Officer, Wold was responsible for recruiting warrant officers to fill the 286 positions in the New York Army National Guard and overseeing warrant officer training.

Wold, who was named to the position in  2010, is retiring after more than 40 years of service.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 is the highest rank in the warrant officer corps.

During his tenure the New York National Guard responded to Tropical Storms Irene and Lee in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

During the ceremony a saber, signifiying the duties of the Command Chief Warrant Officer was passed from Wold,  to Major General Anthony German, the Adjutant General of New York, to represent Wold's transition out of the job. German then passed the saber on to Schirmer, representing his readiness to take on those duties.

Wold received the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal during the ceremony in recognition of his service.

Wold joined the U.S. Army in 1975 as a medium helicopter repairman. In March of 1980 he attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and graduated from flight school in January of 1981. Active duty assignments included the 25th Infantry Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 11th ACR, and the 24th Infantry Division.

He joined the New York Army National Guard in 1989 and assignments include the 101 Cavalry, the 1st Battalion 142 Attack Helicopter Battalion, the 3rd Battalion 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, and Joint Forces Headquarters, New York Army National Guard.

He also served as a Maintenance Test Flight Examiner with Joint Forces Headquarters in Latham, NY. Duties included the training and evaluation of Maintenance Test Pilots and advising the State Aviation Officer on logistical issues. He is a qualified rotary wing instructor pilot.

Wold returned from Iraq in May 2009 where he served as the Task Force Jester Aviation Maintenance Officer. He is a Master Army Aviator with over 5,400 flight hours in numerous aircraft. CW5 Wold was born and raised in Somerset, Wisconsin.

Wold's awards and decorations include the Soldiers Medal for heroism outside combat, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the NATO Medal.

He and his wife Cheryl presently reside in Ballston Lake, New York.