Newly minted warrant officers discuss significance of selections

Published Jan. 9, 2025
By Mark Wyatt
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- For the first time in 65 years, 30 Air Force warrant officers, including two assigned here, have graduated from the U.S. Air Force Warrant Officer Training School.

The graduation ceremony, held Dec. 6, 2024, marked a historic moment for the Air Force as it works to address critical operational needs in an era of Great Power Competition.

“You are going to establish the value that warrant officers bring to our service,” said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall in his address to graduates. “The school has prepared you well, and I am absolutely confident you’re ready to go do that.”

Among the graduates were Chief Warrant Officer Richard Barragan and Warrant Officer Cooper Zartman.

Image of Airmen — Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, Maj. Nathaniel Roesler, Warrant Officer Training School Commandant, and Senior Master Sgt. Jarvis Wilson, WOTS Senior Enlisted Leader, present a WOTS class 25-01 diploma to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richard Barragan at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, Dec. 6, 2024. This historic cohort of 30 graduates marks the reintroduction of Warrant Officers to the Air Force following the dissolution of the Warrant Officer Corps in 1958. The inaugural class consisted of 22 Active Duty, 6 Guardsmen, and 2 Reservists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Melanie Rodgers Cox)

The eight-week program included coursework in technical fields such as cyber operations and intelligence analysis, as well as general training in strategic planning and operational integration.

“Our training emphasized not just technical expertise, but also leadership and mentorship,” said Barragan. “We’ve been prepared to step into these roles with humility and a commitment to serving those around us.”

The warrant officer corps, originally phased out in 1959 and now reinstated, establishes a vital link between enlisted personnel and commissioned officers.

“We are here to be a bridge, to mentor enlisted personnel and to assist officers in executing commanders’ directives. That dual role is what makes this opportunity so unique and vital,” said Zartman.

Historically, warrant officers served as technical experts and advisors. This new cohort will fulfill similar roles, particularly in specialized domains such as cyber, intelligence, and space operations.

The decision to revive the warrant officer corps reflects the Air Force’s strategic focus on addressing complex challenges.

“Our information domain is the most contested environment we operate in today,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Flosi. “Your technical competence and commitment to serving others is a critical component of our national strategy.”

The graduates’ technical fields underscore the Air Force’s emphasis on emerging and critical domains.

“Our job is to ensure our expertise enhances mission readiness and operational success. We’re here to lead and solve problems,” said Barragan.

Zartman highlighted the importance of collaboration.

“The Air Force needs leaders who can integrate seamlessly across domains, and that’s what we’re here to do,” he said.

Maj. Nathaniel Roesler, Warrant Officer Training School commandant, emphasized the historical significance of the moment and urged graduates to set a high standard for the generations of warrant officers.

“Those skills will serve you well as you blaze a trail for all future warrant officers in the Air Force,” said Roesler. “We’ll need your technical expertise, your leadership, your humility, and your continued dedication to excellence.”

The graduates will report to their duty stations early this year, applying their training to real-world challenges.

Their leadership will also set the stage for future cohorts, with the next class scheduled to graduate in March 2025.

“We’re building something that will last, something that will enhance the Air Force’s ability to adapt and succeed in the most demanding environments,” said Barragan.

Both graduates agreed that the warrant officer program will strengthen the force’s capabilities, ensuring it remains ready for any challenge in an increasingly complex global environment.

“It’s an honor to be part of this,” Zartman said. “We know the expectations are high, and we’re ready to exceed them.”