Previous Awardees

2022 · Quartermaster Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Rufus N. Montgomery, Sr.

History was made and sustained—combat-hardened, logistics-driven, and legacy-making—serving 37 years helping to lead the Army from Vietnam through logistics transformation.

CWO Five (Ret.) Rufus N. Montgomery, Sr. was a highly distinguished Army leader with more than 37 years of service. He made history as the first African American Chief Warrant Officer in the food service/quartermaster career field selected to CW5 (selected below the zone in 1994).

Drafted in 1965, he began his military career as a combat infantryman and paratrooper, later serving as a food service specialist with Company C, 1st Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate), Bien Hoa, Vietnam.

CWO Five (Ret) Montgomery became widely recognized as one of the Army’s leading Quartermaster logisticians. His assignments included service in West Germany, the Republic of South Korea, and support operations during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia. His final position was Senior Personnel Proponency Officer, Combined Arms Support Command, Fort Lee, Virginia, where he contributed to the Army Training Leadership Development Panel Study on Army Transformation and its impact on warrant officers across all grades. He also served as a voting member of the first Warrant Officer Development Council, established on January 4, 1999.

He is the 6th Honorary Chief Warrant Officer of the Quartermaster Corps, Emeritus— the first Black warrant officer honored in this prestigious role— and a member of the Quartermaster Hall of Fame. CW5 Montgomery holds a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and is a graduate of the Warrant Officer Education System. His awards include the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal (with five oak leaf clusters), as well as the Parachutist Badge and Combat Infantryman Badge for active participation in ground combat in Vietnam (1966).

In July 2015, a corridor at the Warrant Officer Technical College, Army Logistics University, was dedicated in his honor.

CWO Five (Ret) Rufus N. Montgomery, Sr. is married to Patricia. They have a daughter, Natalie Patrice Crawford (Kevin), and three children: grandchildren Patricia Iris and Kevin, Jr., and a son, Rufus, Jr.—a veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and a Combat Engineer with the 1st Armored Division, Saudi Arabia, based in Ansbach, Germany.

2023 · Adjutant General Corps

CWO Four (Ret) Percy Dean Butler

“If you want to help yourself, you must first help others, and if you want results, you have to make them happen”

CWO Four (Ret) Percy Dean Butler is recognized as a leader/innovator in the financial management/insurance profession. His professional and personal philosophies are simple: “If you want to help yourself, you must first help others, and if you want results, you have to make them happen”.

CWO Four (Ret) Butler’s life has been dedicated to providing that motto and is reflected throughout his careers, which have included more than twenty years of distinguished service as a military officer, and the development and nurturing of a privately owned financial corporation In his personal life, he shares his philosophy by participating in mentoring programs in the educational system, public speaking engagements and by providing financial seminars.

CWO Four (Ret) Butler was born in Prichard, Mobile, Alabama in December 1943 and was raised in Prichard, Alabama and Gulfport, Mississippi. He graduated from Thirty-Third Avenue High School, Gulfport, Mississippi and attended college at Los Angeles City College and the University of California at Los Angeles before enlisting in the Army in May 1964.

CWO Four (Ret) Butler’s twenty-year Army career was spent specializing in Human Resources and Management; Staff Operations and Planning and Analysis. During his military tenure, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration awarded by American Technological University and pursued his post graduate work in Master of Science Business Administration (MSBA) with Boston University’s European Campus. Not one to sit idle, he consistently progressed in rank to become a Chief Warrant Officer Four, W-4, serving in various posts in the United States, Republic of West Germany and two combat tours to the Republic of Vietnam. He received numerous awards and decorations. On May 30, 2014, Chief Warrant Officer Four Butler was inducted into the United States Army Adjutant General’s Corps Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member of the Corps (DMOC).

After retiring from the military, he began to search for opportunities to successfully utilize his management background and training. CWO Four (Ret) Butler decided to offer his services to the public and successfully launched his own financial consulting and insurance business in the Greater Atlanta area, specializing in advising clients on asset protection through family financial and estate planning. The education of children and retirement funding has been a fundamental aspect of his business, and he has received Federal/Government approval as a Certified Federal Employee Benefits Counselor. His clientele has grown considerably, and he enjoys an excellent professional reputation. CWO Four (Ret) Percy Dean Butler is the President and Founder of The Advantage Capital Group, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia.

2023 · Adjutant General Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Mary Francis Carter

USAWOA Albert W. Holcombe Outstanding Member of the Year Award

CWO Five (Ret) Mary Francis Carter retired after serving 37 years of military service on Active Duty in the Army and Army Reserve.

CWO Five (Ret) is a recipient of the United States Army Warrant Officers Association’s Albert W. Holcombe Outstanding Member of the Year Award and served on its Board of Directs for four years. She was also selected as the Reserve Officers Association’s Department of California Distinguished Warrant Officer of the Year.

CWO Five (Ret) Carter received a master’s degree in public administration from California State University-Dominguez Hills. She was a Personnel Manager with the County of Los Angeles and recognized by the County’s Board of Supervisors for her military and community accomplishments.

CWO Five (Ret) Carter served as Area Chair, Northern Los Angeles Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). She also served as President of the Lost Angeles Chapter of Blacks in Government (BIG).

CWO Five (Ret) Mary Francis Carter retired and is living in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

2023 · Ordinance Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Harry L. Hobbs, PhD.

U.S. Army Warrant Officer Hall of Fame

Dr. Harry Lynn Hobbs, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, stands among the most accomplished and multifaceted Warrant Officers in the history of the U.S. Army Ordinance Corps. With nearly three decades of active-duty service culminating in the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Five, Dr. Hobbs has dedicated his life to national defense, professional military education, and transformational community engagement.

Dr. Hobbs enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1978 and completed his first assignment as a field artilleryman at Fort Knox. After transitioning into missile systems maintenance, he rose rapidly through the ranks, earning an early promotion to Sergeant First Class and, in 1988, selection as a Warrant Officer. By 1990, he was a CW2 leading the largest platoon in his company during the Persian Gulf War. His 63-Soldier unit maintained 100% operational readiness for the 3rd Infantry Division’s Bradley Fighting Vehicles and TOW missile systems during the 100-hour ground war.

During his service, Dr. Hobbs became the Army’s first Warrant Officer to earn a PhD and the first to be promoted to CW5 below the zone. He served in two combat tours and led pivotal logistical operations, including a historic railhead movement during the Balkan/Kosovo Conflict. His career assignments include command of the Army’s only radar school and teaching at every level of the Warrant Officer Education System.

Dr. Hobbs was inducted into the U.S. Army Ordinance Corps Hall of Fame in 2013—the first missile systems Warrant Officer to receive that honor. He has received numerous military awards, including the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, and Meritorious Service Medal (x5). In 2023, he received the Farrell J. Chiles Legacy Award for continued service beyond retirement, marking his enduring impact on the Warrant Officer cohort.

Dr. Hobbs has been a mentor, educator, and role model for Warrant Officers throughout his career and beyond. His pioneering achievements in military education opened doors for others, particularly minority Soldiers, to pursue higher education and leadership. His advocacy for education and mentorship continued in civilian roles as a JROTC instructor and in workforce development. He has mentored countless junior Soldiers and officers, embodying the “be, know, do” leadership model foundational to the Warrant Officer ethos.

Dr. Hobbs’ legacy is visible in modern Army doctrine and logistical planning. His coordination of the largest post-WWII railhead movement during the Kosovo conflict revolutionized the Army’s approach to strategic mobility. As a subject matter expert and educator, he influenced generations of Warrant Officers and Soldiers in the Ordinance Branch. His technical expertise, strategic foresight, and leadership directly enhanced the Army’s operational capabilities and resilience.

Dr. Hobbs embodies the Army’s leadership attributes—character, presence, and intellect. In civilian life, he transitioned seamlessly into leadership positions, including Vice President of Employee Engagement at Huntsville Utilities and Communications Relations Officer for the Huntsville Police Department. He brings Army values to civilian institutions, enhancing cross-sector trust and strategic collaboration. His professional certifications, including SHRM-SCP and Cornell’s Diversity and Inclusion Certificate, further demonstrate his commitment to ethical leadership and inclusive excellence.

Dr. Hobbs has mentored youth, Soldiers, and community members with passion and perseverance. He was named the 2011 Mentor of the Year by 100 Black Men of Huntsville and the 2012 Veteran of the Year by the Madison Rotary Club. His mentorship philosophy stems from a personal history of overcoming poverty, racism, and stigma. As a biracial child raised by his grandparents in Kentucky, his lived experience shaped a leadership style grounded in empathy and empowerment.

Dr. Hobbs’ legacy is multi-dimensional. He is a lifetime member of the Sergeant Morales Club, Audie Murphy Club, and Ordinance Order of Samuel Sharpe. He is also a published author; in 2023, he and his wife released A Flawed Man’s Plans in God’s Hands, a memoir of faith, resilience, and leadership that reflects their journey from military service to spiritual growth.

In addition to his military and civic accolades, Dr. Hobbs serves on the Alabama Workforce Development Board and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, where he continues to shape the future of employment and education policy in the state.

Today, Dr. Harry Hobbs continues to live a life of service, currently serving as Vice President of Employee Engagement at Huntsville Utilities. Through this role and his ongoing community outreach, he remains a powerful advocate for unity, education, and purpose-driven leadership. Whether through board appointments, keynote speeches, or mentorship, Dr. Hobbs’ influence extends far beyond the military—cementing his legacy as a Soldier, scholar, servant leader, and example for future generations.

2023 · Adjutant General Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Ida Tyree- Hyche Hill, Esq.

An avid, passionate missionary, which she ascribes as her calling.

CWO Five (Ret) Ida Tyree- Hyche Hill, Esq. is managing partner at Tyree Hyche & Dixon, LLC. A graduate of Birmingham School of Law, Ida's practice concentrates on probate and estate planning, workers' compensation, and personal injury.

CW5 (Ret) Tyree- Hyche Hill is an active member of the Alabama State Bar, Birmingham Bar Association Workers' Compensation and Probate Sections, Magic City Bar Association, and the Alabama Lawyers Association for Justice (ALAJ).

On May 13, 2016, CW5 (Ret) Tyree- Hyche Hill was appointed and sworn in by the Honorable Jefferson County Judge of Probate Alan L. King as one of the Jefferson County Administrators for probate matters for environmental litigation cases and Guardian Ad Litem matters. She regularly provides pro bono legal services to potential senior citizen clients who can least afford it, through Volunteer Lawyer Programs, and certain non-profit organizations.

Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, AL, CW5 (Ret) Tyree- Hyche Hill completed her undergraduate studies at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa. She migrated to Birmingham and worked for a leading federal agency culminating as Human Resources Manager for over 30 years. Ida, concurrently, served the U.S. Army Reserve for over 33 years with officer command leadership positions in Human Resources Management. She retired in 2011 at the highest warrant officer rank, Chief Warrant Officer Five (CW5).

In her spare time, CW5 (Ret) Tyree- Hyche Hill, an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, enjoys reading, writing, walking, playing guitar & piano music, watching college football, traveling, spending time with family, and quality time with husband, Reverend Carl F. Hill, Sr., Ed.D.

CWO Five (Ret) Ida Tyree- Hyche Hill, Esq. is an avid, passionate missionary, which she ascribes as her calling.

2024 · Corps of Engineers

CWO Four (Ret) Carl M. Burnett

Embrace AI / Master Your Future

CWO Four (Ret) Carl M. Burnett is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer with 22 years of active-duty service in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His background includes facilities engineering, emergency electrical power, information technology, organizational leadership, business management, nonprofit service, and higher education.

Since 2004, Mr. Burnett has served as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University and Montgomery College, where he teaches information technology. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in information and Telecommunication Technology from Johns Hopkins University in 2003, graduating summa cum laude.

In 1977, while serving as a Specialist Four, he became a certified and licensed Third-Class Nuclear Reactor Operator through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In 1979, he was appointed as a Warrant Officer One and became a certified and licensed U.S. Army Nuclear Power Plant Warrant Officer Technician. In 1984, General John A. Wickham, Chief of Staff of the Army, selected him to serve on the Department of the Army Total Warrant Officer Study. As the study’s warrant officer staffing requirements analyst, he developed an artificial intelligence expert system that supported analysis of the warrant officer force and the requirements for the W5 pay grade. In 1989, he was selected as the U.S. Army representative to the Department of Defense Warrant Officer Study. Congress approved the CW5 pay grade for all Armed Services in 1991, with the passage of the Warrant Officer Management Act (Public Law 102–190). In 1993, as commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Prime Power Detachment at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, he served as the regional Facilities Engineering Officer in Charge for Emergency Support Function 3, Emergency Electrical Power. His work supported federal responses to Typhoon Omar in Guam and Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency recognized his contributions with a Meritorious Service Medal.

After retiring from the Army in 1994, he founded and led Prime Radiant Productions, Inc. and The Real Estate Cable Network, Inc. from 1995 to 2000. In 1996, he developed the GEOCODE process and the Geospatial Media Recorder. Patent applications submitted in 1999 were approved in 2003. The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers recognized related technology standards for analog and digital cameras in 2000. From 2003 to 2005, he served as a Senior Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton. He later founded and led Globalfindability, Inc. through 2006. In 2007, the Internet Engineering Task Force adopted the GEOCODE data format. That year, he founded Geocode-LA, Inc. to license his approved standard-essential patents to international companies. In 2009, he worked as a Senior Project Manager with General Dynamics Information Technology, providing specialized information technology support to the U.S. Senate.

Mr. Burnett served in several leadership positions with the United States Army Warrant Officers Association, including chapter president, national vice president, and national president from 1984 to 1986. In 2001, as a founding member of VETSPAC, he helped advocate for Combat-Related Special Compensation for combat-disabled military retirees. Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) was enacted by Congress in 2002, as part of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314). In 2022, while serving as Vice President of the International Pickleball Federation, he helped secure recognition of the federation by The Association for International Sport for All. He is a lifetime member of the United States Army Warrant Officers Association, the 1918 Society, the Society of American Military Engineers, AMVETS, the Military Officers Association of America, and the Association of the United States Army.

2024 · Quartermaster Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Lionel E. Cartwright

Believes that a life well lived represents the very best in service to God, country, community service and outreach.

CWO Five (Ret) Lionel E. Cartwright served with honorable distinction in the United States Army, dedicating 35 years of Active Military Service in the Quartermaster Branch. Highly decorated and lauded for his professional insight and visionary leadership, CWO Five (Ret) Cartwright is a graduate of the Warrant Officer Education System and holds a Doctorate in Ministry Divinity from Campbell University Divinity School in North Carolina.

CWO Five (Ret) Cartwright’s numerous accolades include the Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit, eight Meritorious Service Medals, and the Republic of Vietnam Service Ribbon. He is also a proud member of the prestigious Quartermaster Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, CWO Five (Ret) Cartwright has held various significant assignments, notably establishing a Food Service Training and Sanitation program for Honduran National Officers while with Joint Task Force Bravo, which greatly improved local health standards. At Fort Bragg, NC, he developed the “Mobile Kitchen Trailer Rodeo,” enhancing field kitchen training and leading command units to win top awards in the Philip A. Connelly Excellence in Food Service Competition.

CWO Five (Ret) Cartwright’s service spans across multiple countries, including Germany, Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Haiti. Beyond his military contributions, CW5R Cartwright is an ordained minister dedicated to serving the African American community. He actively participates in the North Carolina Department of Medicine’s Task Force for Veteran Affairs and serves as a Chaplain for the Chadbourn, NC Police Department, while also being a Certified Suicide Intervention Prevention Specialist.

CWO Five (Ret) Lionel E. Cartwright believes that a life well lived represents the very best in service to God, country, community service and outreach.

2024 · Signal Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Janice L. Fontanez

She is passionate and driven with a strong background in Information Technology and mentorship.

CWO Five (Ret) Janice L. Fontanez is a native of Athens Georgia and served 41 plus years of service to the Army National Guard and the Federal Government. Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from National Louis University. She is passionate and driven with a strong background in Information Technology and mentorship.

CWO Five (Ret) Fontanez retired from the Army National Guard May 2017 as the 4th Command Chief Warrant officer for the District of Columbia national Command Chief and recently retired from Federal Civilian Service as the Deputy Chief Information Officer for the National Defense University. She currently supports multiple organizations including the Warrant Officer Association, Military Women Memorial, Washington DC Chapter of the ROCKS, and the National Guard Association (NGAUS).

CWO Five (Ret) Fontanez’s military career spans from August 1975 to May 2017, and duty assignments included System Programmer Analyst, Telecommunication Manager, Information Management Branch Chief, Webmaster, Chief Computer Network Defense, Signal Warrant Officer Advisor for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine (TRADOC), Senior Warrant Officer Advisor National Guard Bureau and Command Chief Warrant Officer (DCNG).

CWO Five (Ret) Fontanez’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Gold Hourglass, National Defense Medal with Bronze Service Star, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 3, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the United States Army Signal Regiment Bronze Order of Mercury.

2024 · Quartermaster Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Karen Ortiz

CWO Five (Ret) Ortiz s deeply involved in her community.

CWO Five (Ret) Karen Ortiz, a Portsmouth, Virginia native, joined the U.S. Army in 1978. Rising through the ranks, she became the first female Chief of the Warrant Officer Division and the first African American Supply Systems Technician (920B) in the U.S. Army.

CWO Five (Ret) Ortiz holds a master’s in counseling and leadership, along with several military certifications.

Including her military career, she has worked over 45 years supporting Soldiers and civilians with the Department of the Army. Chief Ortiz is deeply involved in her community. She serves as the chair for Wreaths Across America and assists with several initiatives including a Back-to-School Supply Drive, Christmas Toy Drive, and serves as a part of a homeless outreach team in Hopewell, Virginia. She also chairs the McGuire Veteran’s Christmas Bingo Program and Gift Committee. She has mentored young girls in the local high school and is currently a foster parent.

CWO Five (Ret) Ortiz was appointed by the 56th Quartermaster General as the 8th Honorary Warrant Officer of the Quartermaster Corps. In this position CW5 Ortiz sits on the board with 6 others selecting the best of the Quartermasters to be the future Distinguished Members of the Corps and future Hall of Famers. She is a Distinguished Member of the Quartermaster Corps and a Hall of Fame recipient.

CWO Five (Ret) Ortiz is married to Rafael Ortiz and is a proud mother of three children and grandmother of four grandchildren. Today she works as a government employee at CECOM in Army Shares Services Center as an Information Technology Manager.

2024 · Quartermaster Corps

CWO Five (Ret) James C. Tolbert

CWO Five (Ret) Tolbert is committed to mentoring future generations of Quartermaster Warrant Officers

CWO Five (Ret) James C. Tolbert is a distinguished military leader who retired after an impressive 32-year career culminating as the 8th Regimental Chief Warrant Officer of the Quartermaster Corps. Following active duty, he served as the Deputy Chief for the Office of the Quartermaster General until December 2021. A Warrant Officer Education System graduate, and he holds a master’s degree in Logistics Systems Management from Colorado Technical University.

CWO Five (Ret) Tolbert has held several progressive assignments, notably as the Quartermaster Personnel Career Management Officer. He made history as the first African American to lead as the Regimental Chief Warrant Officer, where he implemented an innovative WO Accession Program, transformed the WO education model, and established the Petroleum Systems Technician MOS. He also partnered with the Logistics Management Institute to allow Warrant Officers to participate in their Training with Industry Program. His military service span’s diverse locations including Kuwait, Djibouti, multiple tours to West Germany including Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. His accolades include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and six Meritorious Service Medals. Recognizing his contributions, he was inducted into the prestigious Quartermaster Hall of Fame.

Beyond his military service, CWO Five (Ret) Tolbert is committed to mentoring future generations of Quartermaster Warrant Officers and actively supports local chapters of the NAACP and Disabled Veterans. He believes that mentorship can instill a renewed sense of value in black youth, positively influencing their lives.

2024 · Ordinance Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Nicole E. Woodyard

“When you LEARN the PERSON, you DEVELOP the LEADER”

CWO Five (Ret) Nicole E. “BossLady” Woodyard is a distinguished senior executive, human capital architect, and organizational strategist with 31 years of service in the U.S. Department of Defense, seamlessly synthesizing extensive combat deployment experience with enterprise talent modernization. Her operational excellence and decorated service are highlighted by the prestigious Legion of Merit (LOM) alongside numerous high-level military honors, including the USAWOA Honorable Order of the Eagle Rising (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) and the Farrell J. Chiles Legacy Award (Class of 2024). A featured subject in the historical documentary Rising Above the Fray, her military legacy and contributions to the Warrant Officer Corps are preserved and featured at the Library of Congress and the National Museum of the United States Army.

Throughout her tenure across deployed theaters and garrison environments, Ms. Woodyard has directed enterprise-wide cultural shifts and human capital optimization frameworks. Her work on the U.S. Army Gender Neutralization Initiative underscores her ability to foster inclusive team dynamics and performance-based standards. Additionally, her leadership in institutionalizing Command Discipline Programs and spearheading the Army’s initial RESET Pilot Program highlights her expertise in guiding organizational change and embedding new operational processes into permanent cultural standards. As a credentialed TRADOC Senior Training Developer, she brings recognized expertise in institutional education frameworks, dynamic Women in Leadership seminars, and executive workshops.

Her executive consulting practice, Woodyard | INTROSPECT, is built upon a foundation of academic rigor, specialized credentials, and active leadership advocacy. Ms. Woodyard holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management and a Graduate Certificate in Human Capital and Industrial/Organizational Psychology. As an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Certified Professional Coach, she employs evidence-based methodologies to execute "pinnacle development" for senior executives seeking to elevate strategic influence and emotional intelligence.

In corporate consulting engagements, C-suite advisory roles, and keynote presentations, Ms. Woodyard advances the principle that organizational readiness depends upon the strategic development of human capital, operating under her foundational directive: “When you LEARN the PERSON, you DEVELOP the LEADER.”

2025 · Ordinance Corps

CWO Five Julian A. Evans III

CWO Five Julian A. Evans III will be remembered for his leadership, spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty.

CWO Five Julian A. Evans III (1973-2023) dedicated over three decades to serving the U.S. Army. He enlisted in 1993, earned his warrant officer appointment in 2002 and quickly advanced to CW5. His exceptional technical skills and leadership ability resulted in important roles such as Deputy Commandant of the Warrant Officer Career College, Senior Warrant Officer Advisor at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Deputy Product Manager for PEO Missiles and Space, and Department Head at the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College.

CWO Five Evans served honorably in various roles and locations from Korea to Fort Stewart including Operations Iraqi Freedom. His expertise ranged from maintaining electronic missile systems to strategic planning. He is a graduate of multiple advanced military courses and holds a bachelor’s degree from Trident University and a master’s degree from Webster University.

A recipient of the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and numerous other awards. CW5 Evans exemplified selfless service. Known for his genuine care for soldiers, their families, and fellow warrant officers, he mentored countless individuals leaving a lasting legacy of excellence that reflects his life teachings of advising and mentoring. A true man of God, he served as a minister and was a valued member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and his community.

CWO Five Julian A. Evans III will be remembered for his leadership, spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty.

2025 · Quartermaster Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Sonia Y. Graves-Rivers

She has assisted over 100 African American Veterans receive their military benefits.

CWO Five (Ret) Sonia Y. Graves-Rivers enlisted in the United States Army’s active component, later transitioning to commission as a United States Army Warrant Officer, culminating in her assignment as the Reserve Component Quartermaster Senior Warrant Officer Capability Developer for the United States Army Futures Command at Fort Lee, Virginia, through forty years, three months and eight days of distinguished service.

CWO Five (Ret) Graves-Rivers served four combat tours where she received three Meritorious Service Medals and Bronze Star medal. She served two tours at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico.

CWO Five (Ret) Graves-Rivers holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Master of Science in Information Management. In February 2021, she received the Legion of Merit medal.

CWO Five (Ret) Graves-Rivers is 4th Generation serving in the Army and her son MSG Jovano Graves is 5th generation. She gives back by providing substantial donations to Faces of Courage Cancer Organization (Women of Color), My Warriors Place and Dress for Success Tampa Bay, where she creates clothing and jewelry for African American Veterans and Civilians. She has assisted over 100 African American Veterans receive their military benefits. Last year, she contributed over 1200 hours of volunteer service to the Veterans Administration in Tampa, Florida.

CWO Five (Ret) Sonia Y. Graves-Rivers is married to recently retired Colonel Dale B. Rivers. She is the proud grandmother of six grandchildren.

2025 · Quartermaster Corps

CWO Four (Ret) Jeffery Ramsey Sr.

CWO Four (Ret) Ramsey is exploring entrepreneurial opportunities.

CWO Four (Ret) Jeffery Ramsey Sr. is a native of Bogalusa Louisiana. He joined the United States Army in June 1983. He received Basic Training at Ft. Jackson South Carolina and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Lee, Virginia. In 1995, then Staff Sergeant Ramsey, was accessed into the Warrant Officer Corps as a 920B Supply System Technician.

CWO Four (Ret) Ramsey holds master’s degree in Logistic Management along with several military certifications. Including his military career, Jeff has worked over 38 years supporting Soldiers and civilians with the Department of the Army.

CWO Four (Ret) Ramsey currently procures, rehabs, and provides properties to families in need of quality housing in various communities over multiple states. He supports the Crater Chapter Warrant Officer Association in their community effort. He also provides annual donations to the William J. Bradley Foundation in support of the Omicron Nu Lambda Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

CWO Four (Ret) Ramsey is a Distinguished Member of the Quartermaster Corps. Jeffery Ramsey Sr. is married to Claretta Johnson and is the proud father of two children and grandfather of three grandchildren.

CWO Four (Ret) Ramsey is currently retired and exploring entrepreneurial opportunities.

2025 · Adjutant General Corps

CWO Five (Ret) James J. Williams, PhD

A “quiet professional” by fostering positive social change for his community.

CWO Five (Ret) James J. Williams, PhD, is an award-winning scholar and decorated Army veteran following a 31year military career in the Adjutant General Corps, both in the active and reserve components.

Prior to his retirement, Dr. Williams obtained his PhD in Public Management & Leadership from Walden University. He received the 2019 Walden University Leadership Excellence Award for his dissertation topic - Career Ascension of African American Men In The Army Warrant Officer Corps.

Dr. Williams groundbreaking research examined the lived experiences of African American men who advanced through their careers and honorably retired as Chief Warrant Officer Five. As founder and CEO of 1ManSho Productions, LLC, Dr. Williams used his dissertation blueprint to write, direct, edit, and edit, and executive produced his debut film, Rising Above the Fray - A Documentary.

Dr. Willams is also a multi-award-winning author of narrative non-fiction for his debut book, Chasing the Eagle: From Dreaming to Achieving Success & Freedom. Additionally, he coauthored his second book, an Amazon’s 1 Bestseller - Mission Unstoppable: Stories from Failure’s Blessings. Dr. Williams retired from his corporate career after more than two decades as a cybersecurity professional.

Today, the Cleveland, Ohio native enjoys spending time with his wife Greta and son, James II, in their residence in Prince Georges County, MD. Dr. Williams continues to serve as a “quiet professional” by fostering positive social change for his community.

2026 · Ordinance Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Willie M. Dickens

2026 · Signal Corps

CWO Four (Ret) Roslyn “Roz” Barbee

2026 · Adjutant General Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Ronnie Haynes

2026 · Adjutant General Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Coral J. Jones

2026 · Adjutant General Corps

CWO Five (Ret) Reginald ‘Reggie’ Jacobs