As the Department of the Army (DA) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) continues to transform, the role of the Military Police Regimental Chief Warrant Officer will also be transforming. The chief warrant officer in that position now serves as the senior CID advisor to the U.S. Army Military Police School (USAMPS) Commandant and, due to the Commandant’s dual status as the Chief of the Military Police Corps Regiment, is recognized across the Army as the Regimental Chief Warrant Officer. In the near future, the Regimental Chief Warrant Officer will serve as the senior military advisor to the director of training for the new DA CID training facility at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
On 10 March 1999, then Brigadier General Donald J. Ryder, who was the Commandant,USAMPS, Fort McClellan, Alabama, at the time, established the Chief Warrant Officer of the Regiment position, which was assigned to the Directorate of Training as the senior manager for investigative courses and investigative programs of instruction. From then until 2004 (when the position was discontinued), the Chief Warrant Officer of the Regiment supervised all investigative instruction and development of investigative training and approved all changes to investigative courses and programs of instruction prior to final approval by the Assistant Commandant.
On 18 March 2004, then Brigadier General Stephen J. Curry established the position of Chief Warrant Officer of the Military Police Corps Regiment (or the Regimental Chief Warrant Officer). The Regimental Chief Warrant Officer is currently the principal advisor to the USAMPS Commandant on all DA warrant officer issues, serves as a member of the Army Senior Warrant Officer Advisory Council, provides mentorship to all branch warrant officers, and assists with developing programs for the Leader Development Decision Network. Soon, the Regimental Chief Warrant Officer will serve in a similar capacity—but as the senior military advisor to the director of training for the new DA CID training facility at Fort Leonard Wood.
Throughout its history, DA CID has experienced considerable organizational changes as well as changes in crime prevention techniques and procedures for conducting felony level criminal investigations. But through these changes, common principles remain the same—CID agents and the Military Police Corps continuously sacrifice and strive to keep our Soldiers and military communities safe from crime. CID has historically been on the forefront of innovation, with tremendous contributions to the areas of forensics, polygraph, and investigative techniques. And CID is again leading the way in innovation, partnering with law enforcement professionals across the spectrum of jurisdictions to train and equip special agents for its vital mission.
The role of the Regimental Chief Warrant Officer existed long before the present title was ever conveyed, and the position has been filled by some of the very best special agents with whom I have had the pleasure of serving. The following special agents have performed the role of the Regimental Chief Warrant Officer while serving under numerous Military Police Commandants over a span of more than 20 years, and all left a legacy of their own:
1st Regimental Chief Warrant Officer—Chief Warrant Officer Five Philip E. Tackett (Retired), March 2004–October 2008.
2d Regimental Chief Warrant Officer—Chief Warrant Officer Five T. L. Williams (Retired), November 2008–June 2010.
3d Regimental Chief Warrant Officer—Chief Warrant Officer Five David Albaugh (Retired), July 2010–June 2012.
4th Regimental Chief Warrant Officer—Chief Warrant Officer Five Leroy Shamburger (Retired), July 2012–October 2016.
5th Regimental Chief Warrant Officer—Chief Warrant Officer Five Joel E. Fitz (Retired), October 2016–August 2019.
6th Regimental Chief Warrant Officer—Chief Warrant Officer Five Mark W. Arnold (Retired), August 2019–May 2023.
7th Regimental Chief Warrant Officer—Chief Warrant Officer Four Angela J. Rulewich, May 2023–present.
Thank you to all Military Police Corps leaders, past and present, for your support and leadership.
