PUBLICATION DATE: 03/16/23

WI NATIONAL GUARD RELEASE: Wisconsin National Guard appoints new top warrant officer

CONTACT: Cpt. Keith Peter | [email protected]?| 608-242-3050

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by Spc. Cesar Salazar Jr., 112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

MADISON, Wis. ? The Wisconsin National Guard (WING) appointed its 10th state command chief warrant officer during a change of responsibility ceremony at the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs in Madison, March 11, 2023.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Troy Bittner handed off his position as state command chief warrant officer to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Charles Mattison during the ceremony in front of their families and WING leadership. Bittner, who retires from the National Guard this month, entrusted Mattison with the duties of advising state leadership on all matters pertaining to warrant officers in Wisconsin.

Bittner, an aviation chief, became the WING?s ninth state command chief warrant officer in 2020. Bittner enlisted in the Iowa Air National Guard in 1986 before transferring to the Iowa Army National Guard to pursue a flying career. Bittner then became a warrant officer in 1990. He and his wife, Becky, settled into Wisconsin and its national guard in 1993.

Bittner became the state?s top warrant officer during unprecedented times, and the position presented some of the toughest challenges he faced in his career, he said in his speech. Bittner said his retirement from the military is bittersweet, because he loved his job. "I?m very proud that I had this opportunity and very thankful to the organization for everything that I got to do in my 37 years," Bittner said.

"Bittner is just a fantastic individual," WING Deputy Adjutant General for Army, Brig. Gen. Matt Strub, said. "He poured his heart and soul into the position, and now we?re going to miss him. He did just a great job helping out the warrant officers in all of the entire Wisconsin National Guard. He is truly a tremendous individual."

Bittner said Mattison will do a great job in his new role. "Charlie is the right guy to fill my shoes," Bittner said. "He comes in with a new energy and a really good understanding of what?s going on with the organization."

"Mattison has a wealth of experience," Strub said. "He?s going to step right into the role and do some great things for us as well. He?s got the respect and the admiration of the entire warrant officer corps. They?re going to be 100% behind him, and we?re really looking forward to him taking on this new role."

Mattison?s military career spans 37 years, starting back when he first enlisted in the Navy in 1986 before transitioning to the WING in 1992. Mattison later became a maintenance warrant officer in 2004.

Mattison said in his role as the state?s 10th command chief warrant officer, he will continue Bittner?s efforts for the force, with a focus on more cohesive communication to help WING units recognize the value warrant officers bring to the table.

"I?m just looking forward to it," Mattison said of his new appointment. "It is the honor of a lifetime. Being a warrant officer is what I do, it is how I think, and it is my reason in this place in the world. I just hope to do the best I can in the role, support my fellow warrants, and make the Wisconsin National Guard a better place."

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