CHARLESTON, W.Va. –
A “tremendous presence” within the West Virginia National Guard has stepped down.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Ret.) Gary Isner, 78, officially retired Wednesday after nearly 49 years of full-time military and civilian work serving West Virginia and the nation. He has been with the National Guard through nine different Adjutant Generals, serving as executive assistant to four of them. He was the first Soldier in West Virginia to reach the CW5 rank, the highest in the Warrant Officer Corps.
“In all the years I’ve known you, Gary, you have been very committed and humble in all you do,” Brig. Gen. William “Bill” Crane, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, told Isner as he presented him with a coin at his retirement ceremony Wednesday.
Isner was born in Elkins, West Virginia, in August 1942. His family relocated to the Teays Valley, West Virginia, area when he was a young man. In 1961, as a young civilian, Isner worked with the crew delivering materials to build what is now the Joint Force Headquarters building in Charleston. A few years later, he joined the National Guard, completing basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, then completing additional advanced training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He eventually became a full-time Guardsman in 1973.
Over the years, he has watched the WVNG adapt to many changes.
“Before 9/11, it was more of a relaxed atmosphere,” Isner said. “But since that day, it’s been all business. That’s probably the biggest change. There has been an influx in the number of people we’ve hired, and the roles have changed, too. We’re deploying more Soldiers than we used to. I’m just an old slug, but think of all the Soldiers sent back from the war—what’s it like for those guys with PTSD?”
Isner first joined the Guard as a member of a Military Police unit. When a Warrant Officer slot became available as a criminal investigator, Isner jumped at the chance to expand his career. After his commissioning into the Warrant Office program, he worked his way up through the ranks and was promoted as West Virginia’s first ever Chief Warrant Officer 5 on Oct. 4, 2001.
Since taking on the role as TAG executive assistant, Isner has helped many officers move up through the ranks, including Gen. Crane. Isner said he begins working with officers once they’ve reached the rank of Major to prepare them for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, and perhaps eventually Brigadier General.
“We submit packets to get Soldiers promoted to general officers,” Isner explained. “Gen. Crane is the nineteenth we’ve promoted since I’ve been here.”
Isner also served as executive assistant to Gen. Allen Tackett, who was Adjutant General for 16 years. Tackett lauded Isner’s ability to build relationships with people, which in turn helped shape the WVNG and provide even more benefits to active Soldiers, Airmen, and retirees.
“Gary came to me and volunteered to do a tour of duty at the National Guard Bureau,” Tackett said. “When people are sent from the states to NGB, it is usually the worst employee they have because no one wants to get rid of their good employees. But we sent one of the best we have, if not the best. He became friends with important leaders at the NGB-level, and because of those relationships was able to bring the kind of ideas and force structure to the WVNG needed to make us more successful.”
“This guy has done more for the men and women of the West Virginia National Guard than anyone else,” Tackett said. “He volunteered and sacrificed of himself and his family to go to NGB and because of all the rewards that came with it, everyone can thank Gary because we were able to get the kind of force structure that we needed.”
Because of Isner’s contributions, the Senior Leader Wing at JFHQ has been named in his honor, an acknowledgement Isner called “a highlight.”
Although Isner enjoys his work — “I come in at six o’clock every morning,” he said — he’s also looking forward to retirement. He plans to tinker with his cars and spend time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Looking back over his long career, Isner has one thing to say: “I have no regrets.”
The West Virginia National Guard thanks Ms. Isner for his many years of service and contributions to our One Guard family. We wish him the absolute best in retirement.