African American Pioneers

Please click on the links below to learn more about them.

MSG Margarett “Margo” Linton

• First African American Female Assigned to the 172nd Maintenance Battalion
• First African American Female Technician Hired Full-Time in the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade
• First African American Female Hired in the Active Guard/Reserve Programs 142nd Field Artillery Brigade
• First Female to Receive the Bronze Star

CW4 Barbara Lunon

• First African American Female Personnel Branch Chief For the Deputy Chief of Staff-Personnel

SFC Marilyn E. Matthews

• First African American Unit Administrator 1122nd Transportation Company

Col. Ronald W. McDaniel

• First African American Colonel in the 189th Airlift Wing

COL Nathaniel McGee

• First African American Promoted to Colonel
• First African American to Command Installation Site Command

CMSgt Regina L. Monk

• First African American Female Command Chief Master Sergeant 189th Airlift Wing

CW5 Arthur Montgomery

• First African American Warrant Officer

SGM Lorine M. Mosley

• First African American Active Guard/Reserve Sergeant Major and First African American G1 Sergeant Major Joint Force Headquarters

Lt. Col. Anderson Neal, Jr.

• First African American Group Commander188th Fighter Wing

SSG John Parker

• First African American Hired Combined Support Maintenance Shop
• First African American to get Promoted to the Grade of WG-12 and First African American to be Hired in the Quality Assurance Section

CW4 Marcellus Person

• First African American Full-Time Military Technician Hired in a Supervisory Capacity

LTC William B. Phillips, II

• First African American Public Affairs Officer

Lt. Col. Lester Piggee

• First African American Commander, 189th Security Police Squadron
• First African American Officer to Serve as Flight Commander

CW4 Timothy D. Pighee

• First African American GS-12 Contract Specialist
• First African American to Receive Level III Certified Acquisition Professional Contracting Division United States Property and Fiscal Office for Arkansas

CW4 Celquetta D. Babb-Pride

• First African American Female Property Book Officer
• First African American Property Book Officer For the 233rd Regiment Regional Training Institute
• First African American Female Property Book Officer For the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

COL Anthony Sanders

• First African American Legislative Liaison

LTC David Savage, Sr.

• First African American Battalion Commander 1st Battalion, 153d Infantry 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate)

CW4 Gregory Settles

• First African American First Sergeant, D Company, 212th Signal Battalion
• First African American Command Sergeant Major, 212th Signal Battalion

MSG Kira S. Sharkey

• First African American Female Personnel Services Noncommissioned Officer 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
• First African American Female Awarded The 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Bowie Knife

BG Leland Tony Shepherd

• First African American General Officer to Command the ARNG

COL Sherman Tate

• First African American Battalion Commander 39th Support Battalion, 39th Infantry Brigade

LTC Alice Taylor

• First African American Nurse

SSG Correna Taylor

• First African American Female Recruiter

Maj. Daryl A. Taylor

• First African American Female Assistant Staff Judge Advocate 189th Airlift Wing

Lt. Col. Jacqueline Taylor

• First African American Female Commander
• First African American Female to Command Arkansas Air National Guard Detachment National Guard Marksmanship Training Unit

SMSgt Harold Terry

• 189th Air Wing’s Minority Affairs Sub-Committee

COL Burthel Thomas

• First African American Battalion Commander

MSgt Willie Tyiska

• First African American to Enlist in the Air Guard
• First Hired Into the National Guard Technician Program

CW3 Courtney E. Wallace

• First African American Surface Maintenance Supervisor Army National Guard Consolidated Maintenance Facility

SFC Tasheenia L. Wallace

• First African American Female and First Female in the Arkansas Army National Guard to Graduate From the 11B Infantry Transition Course

SSG John C. Watson

• First African American Male Hired as a Full-Time Employee

CW4 Heath A. Welch

• First African American Property Book Officer Headquarters and Headquarters Company 39th Infantry Brigade

LTC (CH) J. Dawson Williams

• First African American Chaplain in the 212th Signal Battalion
• First Full-Time African American Chaplain in the National Guard US and First African American Chaplain in the Arkansas National Guard

Dora J. Williams

• First African American Female Civilian Supervisor 189th Security Forces Squadron 189th Airlift Wing

LTC Harold D. Williams

• First African American Commander 2nd Battalion, 153d Infantry Regiment 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

CW4 Paul Williams

• First African American Unit Administrator
• First African American First Sergeant 39th Infantry Brigade

Maj. Magnolia Winkler

• First African American Female Officer

LTC Claudell Woods

• First African American Judge Advocate General

LTC Sandra Y. Young

• First United States Army African American Soldier to complete the International Staff Course under the Canada National Defense Training Center
• First African American Female Commander 217th Brigade Support Battalion 142d Field Artillery Brigade