Retired Rochester Police Officer and Iraq War Vet Louis Wilson Named as Top New York National Guard Sergeant

Command Sergeant Major Louis Wilson will become New York Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major in the fall

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Command Sargeant Major Louis Wilson

LATHAM, N.Y. (04/22/2014)(readMedia)-- Command Sergeant Major Louis E. Wilson, a retired police officer from Rochester and a veteran of the Iraq War, has been picked to become the next senior enlisted Soldier for the 10,500-member New York Army National Guard later this year.

Wilson, a member of the New York Army National Guard for 38 years, has served as a sergeant major, the top Army enlisted rank, since 1999.

He has served as the Command Sergeant Major for the 1st Battalion 156th Field Artillery in Kingston, the Engineer Brigade of the 42nd Infantry Division in Buffalo, the 153rd Troop Command, also in Buffalo, and is currently the Command Sergeant Major of the 4,300-member 53rd Troop Command.

The 53rd Troop Command is headquartered at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill and has units located across New York.

The Army pairs an enlisted Soldier with an officer in all command positions. The sergeant major of an Army unit is the top enlisted leader in that unit and acts as a direct advisor to the commander on training and discipline for the unit.

"Command Sgt. Major Louis Wilson has a wealth of experience working with Soldiers at all level of command. He is a proven leader who has distinguished himself in every position he has held. I look forward to working with Command Sgt. Major Wilson as we ensure the New York Army National Guard is prepare to respond to both domestic and overseas

operations," said Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York.

Wilson will replace Command Sergeant Major Frank Wicks, also a veteran of the Iraq War, who has held that position since 2011. Wicks, a West Sand Lake resident who has been on leave from his position as a civilian employee of the New York State Police, plans to retire from the New York Army National Guard on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

"It is an honor to be named as the Army Guard's sixth senior enlisted leader and to be able to continue to work for this professional organization, to help the citizens of New York," Wilson said.

Wilson joined the New York Army National Guard in January 1976 as an artilleryman and was first assigned to the 1st Battalion, 209th Field Artillery in Rochester.

He deployed to Tikrit, Iraq in 2004 and 2005 with the Engineer Brigade of the 42nd Infantry Division.

Wilson is a 2002 graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy and holds an associates degree in food service administration from Monroe Community College. He retired from the Rochester Police Department after 20 years on the force.

Wilson's military awards include the Meritorious Unit Commendation Award, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the New York State Conspicuous Service cross, and the Combat Action Badge.

He and his wife Teresa have three children: Latasha, Louis Jr., and Leigh and two grand-daughters: Aria and Imari.