CHARLESTON, W.Va. –
West Virginia Army National Guard (WVARNG) State Command Chief, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Daniel Hutchins was promoted to Warrant Officer 5 Aug. 19, 2019, at the Joint Force Headquarters in Charleston, West Virginia.
Hutchins, a native of Marietta, Ohio, assumed responsibilities as the state’s warrant officer corps leader in February of 2019 after 19 years in the WVARNG and 28 years in the military. State Command Chiefs are tasked with keeping the Adjutant General informed and makes recommendations in matters related to warrant officer accessions, training, education and welfare.
Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, said that in a Joint Forces environment like the WVNG, he looks for leaders who not only live up to the service’s values, but epitomize them.
“We know the Army values by the acronym LDRSHIP – loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, personal courage – and across the Air Force they talk about integrity first, selfless service, duty before others,” Hoyer said. “If you look at those Army Values, and you look at the Air Force Values, and you look at Daniel Hutchins you would say he epitomizes those values across the spectrum.”
Hutchins began his speech with a reading of the Code of the United States Army Warrant Office, which is how he lives and serves.
He went on the quote the philosopher James Allen – “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.”
Hutchins used an engineering metaphor to thank those who he said are behind his ability to be at the pinnacle of his career.
First we have to have a plan, and he would have to thank God for capabilities and all things, he said.
Next, you have to have a solid foundation, he said. For him, family is the true foundation. His rich heritage of military service, as well as the support of his mother, mother-in-law, and wife, who he said is the most courageous woman he knows.
After the foundation, you have to think about the structure and framework. Hutchins said for him, those are his senior leaders – officers and NCO - who have shown him their mentorship, hard work, and guidance.
Finally, it’s the finishing, the components that finish a home, that complete a project. Hutchins said it has to go to every man and woman he has met, mentors, and leaders he has worked with along the way, in uniform and in civilian capacity.
“I can stand here today and be humbly grateful for you, for this to be provided to me,” Hutchins said. “With that, I thank you all for coming out here today. I appreciate you all.”
Hutchins enlisted in the Army in 1992 and from there served a four-year tour in Europe culminating in a tour to the Balkan’s under Kosovo Force (KFOR). Then, he was reassigned to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, where he served his remaining time on Active Duty with army aviation prior to being accepted into the Counter Drug program with the Georgia Army National Guard. Hutchins served with the GAARNG from 1997 through 2000, when he was accepted and transferred to the WVARNG CD program. In June of 2001, Hutchins was accepted into Army Aviation Rotary Wing Flight School and graduated September 2002. He has served with the WVARNG in aviation until his recent promotion to state command chief.