MD National Guard bids farewell to Senior Enlisted Leader, welcomes successor

by Capt. Ben Hughes

BALTIMORE – Members of the Maryland National Guard bid farewell to their outgoing senior enlisted leader and welcomed her replacement in a formal change of responsibility ceremony and celebrated the retirement of the outgoing top enlisted adviser.

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Sims officially assumed the role of the MDNG Command Senior Enlisted Leader from U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Perlisa Wilson during a well-attended ceremony at the Fifth Regiment Armory, Oct. 1, 2022.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Timothy E. Gowen, adjutant general for Maryland, presided over the ceremony.

“It has been a real pleasure to have worked with Perlisa over the last three and half years,” said Gowen. “She is a fantastic ambassador, for not just the Maryland National Guard, but the National Guard writ large, the DoD, and the United States of America.” 

Wilson, who retired after 32 years of service, served at the CSEL since 2018. She was part of an all-female command team, which was a first for the entire National Guard. Coming up through the ranks, she served in personnel, management, operational, and logistical career fields. 

“It is important to have not only the right people, but the people who have been leading from the ground level all the way up to the general officers speaking about what is affecting our Soldiers, Airmen, and their families, and [Wilson] has done that,” said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Tony L. Whitehead, senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. “I want to say thank you for that, and it has been an honor to serve with you.”  

Wilson became the first Maryland Army National Guard African American woman to serve at brigade command sergeant major in 2016. Also, she was the first woman and African American to be the CSEL for the MDNG.

“A lot of people don’t know that she volunteered and extended her influence well outside the Maryland National Guard,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. John T. Raines, the 13th Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard, about Wilson’s support as secretary of the Command Sergeant Major advisory council. “My sister in arms, I appreciate you being there for me when I needed you, and I appreciate what you did for the Army National Guard.” 

Raines said she represented 336,000 Soldiers and was instrumental in setting policies in a Department of Defense instruction dealing the pregnancy and post-partum, so women don’t have to “pick between being a Soldier and a mom.”

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Maurice L. Williams, the 13th command chief master sergeant of the Air National Guard, and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. (retired) John F. Sampa, the previous Army National Guard command sergeant major, also spoke about Wilson’s impact. 

“I am so thankful to my God for giving me the strength, not only to serve my country and my community, but the Soldiers and Airmen of the Maryland National Guard,” said Wilson. “God is truly amazing, and without His strength and guidance, I would not have made it here today.”

Sims is just the second Air National Guard Airman to serve as the command senior enlisted leader of the MDNG. Sims previously served as the 12th State Command Chief for the Maryland Air National Guard. In this role, he was the personal advisor to the assistant adjutant general – Air for the state of Maryland concerning training, readiness, morale and welfare, proper utilization, and the professional development of more than 1,400 Airmen. 

“All the work [Chief Sims] did at the national level and brought back that experience back to the Maryland National Guard; it’s that kind of leadership that will make you extremely successful,” said Gowen. “I look forward to many, many years of you in this most important position.” 

Sims joined the Air Force in 1990 and held several active-duty positions. He also served in numerous maintenance leadership roles at the flight, squadron, group, and wing levels.

“To the Airmen and Soldiers of the Maryland National Guard, I am truly humbled and honored to be your command senior enlisted leader,” said Sims. “I look forward to working hard for every one of you and continuing the success of the previous CSELs.” 

Similar to a change of command ceremony, the change of responsibility serves the dual function of rendering honors to the departing senior enlisted leader and providing official recognition of the transfer of responsibility to the incoming senior enlisted leader.