Ballston Spa Resident David Piwowarski takes over as National Guard Command Sgt. Major Friday, Oct. 30

LATHAM, NY (10/29/2015)(readMedia)-- Command Sgt., Major David Piowarski , a Ballston Spa resident and Afghan War veteran, will replace Command Sgt. Maj. Louis Wilson as the top enlisted Soldier for the 10,350-member New York Army National Guard during a Friday afternoon "Change-of-Responsibility" ceremony at New York State Division of Militarwy and Naval Affairs Headquarters.

Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York will preside over the ceremony.

Wilson, a retired Rochester police officer and Iraq War veteran, will be retiring after more than 38 years of service.

As the state command sergeant major, Piwowarski will serve as the adjutant general's personal advisor for all enlisted-related issues, particularly those affecting training and quality of life. He travels throughout the state observing training and talking to Soldiers and their families.

WHAT: Change of Responsibility Ceremony for the incoming New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. David Piwowarski.

WHO: Command Sgts. Maj. David Piwowarski and Louis Wilson, and Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York

WHEN: Friday, October 30, 2015 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Joint Force Headquarters, New York National Guard, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham N.Y.

Media Opportunity:

Video and still imagery of the passing of the colors between the outgoing Command Sgt. Maj., Louis Wilson and the incoming Command Sgt. Maj., David Piwowarski. Interviews with the two senior NCOs regarding their perspectives on their careers and their lifetime of service on behalf of Soldiers.

News media should contact the New York National Guard Public Affairs Office at 786-4581 prior to 1 p.m. for access to the secure military facility.

BACKGROUND:

The change of responsibility is a simple traditional event that is rich with symbolism and heritage. Key to the ceremony is the changing of position of responsibility between the outgoing and incoming command sergeants major.

Command Sgt. Major David Piwowarski

Command Sgt. Major David Piwowarski is originally from the Buffalo area and enlisted in the Army in 1981. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division before joining the New York Army National Guard. In 2008, Piwowarski deployed to Afghanistan with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and served as the command sergeant major for Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix. This multi-national military force, headed by a New York Army National Guard general, was responsible for training thousands of Afghan National Army Soldiers throughout the country.

Piwowarski has extensive experience with the Guard having served as a rifleman, platoon sergeant, company first sergeant, and as command sergeant major at the battalion, brigade, and division level. His most recent assignment is the division command sergeant major for the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters, a combat division with training and operations oversight of maneuver and support brigades across five states and more than 14,000 Soldiers.

He is currently a military technician who works full-time in the New York National Guard headquarters in the New York National Guard's Joint Force headquarters' domestic operations office.

Piwowarski holds a dual bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from Buffalo State College. He is a 2004 graduate of the Army's Sergeants Major Academy.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

He and his wife Domenica live in Ballston Spa with their son Bryan and daughter Alexa.

Command Sgt. Major Louis Wilson

Command Sergeant Major Robert Louis Wilson has served in the military for over 38 years. He entered the New York Army National Guard in January 1976, completing his Army basic training and advance individual training at Fort Sill, Okla. His first duty assignment was a cannon crewman with the 1st Battalion, 209th Field Artillery New York Army National Guard Rochester, N.Y.

In his 39 years of assignment with the New York Army National Guard, he served as the Command Sergeant Major for a few units: 1st Battalion, 156th Field Artillery Kingston, 42nd Infantry Division Engineer Brigade, Buffalo, 153rd Troop Command Buffalo, and most recently at the 53rd Troop Command Camp Smith Training Site.

He is a graduate of Monroe Community College, earning his Associates of Applied Science degree in Food Service Administration. He is a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the command team with the 42nd Infantry Division's Engineer Brigade for Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

His significant military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Unit Commendations Award, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal w/Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal w/Bronze Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/Gold Hour Glass and "M" Device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon w/Numeral 4, Army Service Ribbon, New York State Conspicuous Service Medal, New York State Commendation Medal w/Silver Shield Device, New York State Aid to Civil Authority, New York State Humanitarian Medal w/Silver Shield Device, New York State First Sergeant Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, Pistol "Marksman" Qualification Badge.

In his civilian career, Wilson is a retired police officer from Rochester, N.Y.

He is married to Teresa and they have three children and two grand-daughters.