Wisconsin Guard welcomes new enlisted leader, bids farewell to 40-year veteran

By Tech. Sgt. Jon LaDue
Wisconsin National Guard

Following nearly four years as the Wisconsin Air National Guard's top enlisted leader, Chief Master Sgt. James Chisholm transferred responsibility to Chief Master Sgt. Greg Cullen following an official ceremony at Joint Force Headquarters earlier this month.

Cullen became the 12th command chief master sergeant for Wisconsin as Chisholm prepares to retire following more than 40 years of service in the Wisconsin Air National Guard.

Cullen, a Milton native who now resides in Tomah, has been dreaming for an opportunity like this for a long time. He says he was grateful to be considered among the 38 chiefs eligible in the state.

"I am very excited but very humbled." Cullen said. "We have a lot of outstanding chiefs in the WIANG ... so to be selected among them is truly an honor."

Challenges that faced Chisholm are still challenges that Cullen must face today - a task he says he is up to. Cullen will focus on emphasizing in-residence professional military education, civilian education and recognizing the "outstanding work our Airmen do across the state."

"I'd like to continue what Chief Chisholm and others have started," Cullen said.

Perhaps the biggest challenge Cullen faces, however, is something the entire National Guard faces - unyielding budget constraints and the uncertainty of future missions as the United States reduces its footprint in Iraq and Afghanistan for the first time since 2001.

"There are lots of rumors out there and we want to make sure Wisconsin stays at the top of everyone's list, to keep us relevant in the Guard organization." Cullen said.

Cullen, who enlisted as an Air Force air traffic controller on active duty in 1989, most recently served as operations chief enlisted manager at Volk Field and also filled a public affairs role. He says he has the utmost faith that Wisconsin Air Guard members will continue to serve at the same level as he has seen since joining the Wisconsin Guard in 1996.

"Without a doubt, it is one of the finest organizations I've been a part of," he said. "There is a tremendous amount of talent and ability across the state. Every Airman in every unit seems to exceed the standard."

Chisholm, of South Milwaukee, shares Cullen's sentiment on the state of the Wisconsin National Guard and - as an Airman who has served four decades in the organization - perhaps no one is more versed in the past and current state of the Wisconsin Air National Guard.

"We were pretty rough back when I joined," Chisholm said. "I think we're absolutely on par with [the best units in the force in] everything we're doing and how we perform our missions.

"Every single unit that we have, in my estimation, is looked at as one of the tops in their field," he continued. "I think we are the best and we are absolutely blessed to have the reputation that we have."

Chisholm, who plans to move to Arizona with his wife after he retires, ends his second tour as state command chief master sergeant, having served once before from 1998 to 2001. Chisholm spent much of his latest tour working with national-level organizations so he could bring a vaster wealth of knowledge back to Wisconsin, as well as spread word of the great work the Wisconsin Guard has accomplished to the rest of the nation.

Although Chisholm served as command chief in a traditional sense, he has helped convert the position to a full-time role in the Wisconsin Guard.

"You can see how it is evolving into a full-time position, just like the state command sergeant majors for the Army Guard are full-time," Chisholm said.

The full time position is something Chisholm saw other states utilizing and he quickly brought the advantageous idea to Wisconsin. This is the kind of leadership Wisconsin has become accustomed to under Chisholm, said Brig. Gen. John McCoy, commander of the Wisconsin Air National Guard.

"Chief Chisholm has been an outstanding mentor, leader and friend to the Wisconsin Air National Guard," McCoy said. "He will be missed as he transitions to his new life in Arizona."