Indiana National Guard announces Roachdale resident as new command chief warrant officer

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Wendy Robinson

INDIANAPOLIS – A Roachdale resident will become the new command chief warrant officer for the Indiana National Guard in September.

Maj. Gen. Dale Lyles, adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard, announced Monday that Chief Warrant Officer 5 Wendy Robinson, will be promoted to the position following the retirement of Command Chief Warrant Officer 5 Ronald Baird Jr.

As command chief warrant officer, Robinson will advise the adjutant general on all warrant officer matters including training, discipline, morale, policy and well-being.

“I am looking forward to Command Chief Warrant Officer 5 Wendy Robinson stepping into this role and joining our command team.” Lyles said. “Her years of experience and strong leadership development skills are an asset to our organization.”

Robinson, who began her military career in 1990, most recently held the commander position for the Warrant Officer Candidate Accession Program.

Robinson has held multiple command and staff positions, including with the 113th Support Battalion, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 38th Division Support Command, 138th Quartermaster Company, 519th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 38th Infantry Division logistics staff and Indiana National Guard headquarters.

Robinson has also held various roles with the Reserve Component Warrant Officer Candidate School since 2006.

“I am excited to take on this new role and look forward to taking on new responsibilities and challenges,” said Robinson, who will be the sixth command chief warrant officer for the Indiana National Guard. “I am grateful for the trust placed in me and I am honored to work hard on behalf of the Indiana warrant officer cohort.”

Robinson deployed as part of Task Force Indy to Iraq in 2006 and with the 38th Infantry Division to Kuwait in 2019.

Robinson will replace Baird, who’s held the role since May 2020, following his deployment to the Middle East supporting Operation Spartan Shield as the 38th Infantry Division’s senior maintenance warrant officer.

“I would like to thank Maj. Gen. Lyles for this opportunity over the past four years,” Baird said. “Command Chief Warrant Officer Robinson is a great servant leader, and I am excited for her to take on the senior leader responsibilities of our organization.”

Baird, of Scottsburg, has served in the Indiana National Guard for more than 37 years. During his career, he’s also served as a leader at every level from company to battalion to brigade and division.

Baird plans to retire from military service and remain as a civilian employee of the Indiana National Guard.