Chief Warrant Officer Five (CW5) Milton F. Mercado Jr. enlisted in the New York Army National Guard on January 10, 1992. He attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, SC, followed by Advanced Individual Training for Avionic Radar Systems Repair at Fort Gordon, GA.

His first assignment was at the 42nd Infantry Division Aviation Brigade, Company F, 142nd Aviation as an Avionic Radar Systems Repairer. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant in 2001 and reassigned to Company B, 642nd Support Battalion, in Ronkonkoma, New York, where he supervised Avionic Systems Maintenance until 2003.

In 2003, Mercado attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and Initial Entry Rotor Wing training at Fort Rucker, AL, achieving Commandant’s List and Honor Graduate, respectively.

After completing flight training and the UH-60 Blackhawk transition course, CW5 Mercado was assigned to the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, Company A, 3rd Battalion (Assault), 142nd Aviation Regiment. During his time with Company A, he deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His assignments included Tactical Operations Officer, Personnel Recovery Officer, Tactical Electronic Warfare Operations, and Aviation Mission Survivability Officer.

In 2011, Mr. Mercado was assigned to HHC 3-142 Assault Helicopter Battalion (AHB) as the Battalion Aviation Mission Survivability Officer and Personnel Recovery Officer, and was subsequently promoted to CW4. During the 3-142 Assault Helicopter Battalion’s 2021 National Training Center rotation, he would serve as its Executive Officer.

In response to the COVID Pandemic in 2021, Mercado served as the Commander for JTF COVID South, CP Hudson Valley, with more than 300 Soldiers, Airmen, NY Naval Militia, and NY Guard personnel assigned. His command facilitated the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and Tests at seven separate sites in six New York counties.

In 2021, Mercado was reassigned to HHC, 42nd CAB, as the Brigade Aviation Mission Planner for Operations and was subsequently promoted to CW5 as the Brigade Aviation Mission Survivability Officer.

Additionally, CW5 Mercado is a retired New York State Police Senior Investigator who was assigned to the New York Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force. As a DEA Task Force Group Supervisor, he led, supervised, and mentored an investigative team consisting of DEA Special Agents, NYSP Investigators, and NYPD Detectives. His team conducted international, federal, state, and local violent crime, money laundering, and narcotic trafficking investigations. Mercado served with the New York State Police from 1998 to 2022.

He is a Graduate of the Army’s Warrant Officer Senior Service Education, Warrant Officer Intermediate Level Education, Warrant Officer Advanced, and Warrant Officer Basic Course. His additional courses and qualifications include: Initial Entry Rotary Wing (OH-58A/C and TH-67); UH-60A/L/M qualifications; Aviation Mission Survivability Officer; Personnel Recovery Officer; Joint Firepower Course Qualified; Tactical Electronic Warfare Operations Qualification; UH-60A/L/M Unit Trainer; and UH-60 Simulator Instructor/Operator.

Mercado’s awards include the: Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Army Achievement Medal (4th Award), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (8th Award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device and Silver Hourglass Device, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (2nd award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (2nd Award). He holds the Master Army Aviator Badge and several state awards.

CW5 Mercado and his wife, Nancy, reside in Garrison, NY; they have two daughters: Izabella and Gabriella. Bella and Gabby are both honor students, love music, dancing, and boating.

As of 2026JAN05