Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4) Barbara Lunon:

Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4) Barbara Lunon was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is a 1975 graduate of Parkview High School in Little Rock, and in 1994, CW4 Lunon received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organization Management from Philander Smith College, which is now Philander Smith University, in Little Rock.

CW4 Lunon started her military journey on December 15, 1981, when she enlisted into the 204th Medical Detachment (Dental Service), Arkansas Army National Guard in North Little Rock. She completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina in 1982. In 1987, she graduated from the Arkansas Military Academy Officer Candidate School (OCS) Class 30. Regulation prohibited her from accepting the officer commission because she was an enlisted technician which was not compatible. In 2002, CW4 Lunon entered the Warrant Officer Candidate Training Program at Fort Rucker, Alabama and on March 22, 2002, she was appointed as Warrant Officer One (WO1), 420A0 in the Adjutant General’s Corps. CW4 Lunon at the age of 46 was the oldest candidate in her class, her perseverance and strong will gave her the strength to graduate. She helped pin the word and taught her class their “Hang That Hat” song, “We’re Tracking.”

While assigned to the 204th. Medical Detachment (Dental Service), CW4 Lunon served in a variety of positions such as Clerk Typist, Personnel Administrative Specialist and Chief Dental Facility Noncommissioned Officer. In 1997, she served as Senior Personnel Sergeant for Detachment 1, 87th Troop Command and later as Personnel Sergeant with Headquarters and Headquarters Service and Support Company, 1st Battalion, 114th Aviation Battalion in North Little Rock. As a Sergeant First Class (SFC), on December 4, 2000, CW4 Lunon was hired and assigned to Deputy Chief of Staff-Personnel (DCSPER) as a Military Personnel Technician. On March 27, 2002, CW4 Lunon was appointed and assigned to Joint Force Headquarters-Arkansas as a Human Resources Technician and Personnel Branch Chief, Joint Force Headquarters-Arkansas. She was the first African American Female assigned as the Personnel Branch Chief, in DCSPER. On October 4, 2009, CW4 Lunon was assigned to the State Education Office, and in 2013 assigned to the Arkansas Army National Guard Institute Support Unit as a Human Resources Technician. In 2015, she was assigned to the 77th Aviation Brigade as a Human Resources Technician.

She deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom/Spartan Shield. Her awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal w/OLC, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with a Bronze Star, Armed Forces Reserves Medal with gold hourglass and Mobilization Device, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Arkansas Distinguished Service Medal, Arkansas Exceptional Service Medal, Arkansas Federal Service Ribbon, Arkansas Emergency Service Ribbon, and Arkansas Recruiting Ribbon.

CW4 Lunon’s military education includes the Human Resources Staff Course, Reserve Component General Officer Legal Orientation Course, Warrant Officer Staff Course Phase I, Warrant Officer Staff Officer Course Phase 2, Administrative Warrant Officer Advanced Course, U.S. Army Casualty Notification Training, Personnel Tech Warrant Officer Basic Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Advance Noncommissioned Officer Course Phase 1 and 2, Unit Clerk Course, 75B Personnel Administrative Support Course, Primary Leadership Development Course, and the 71L Administrative Specialist Course.

CW4 Lunon volunteered numerous years with the Minuteman Youth Camp as a day counselor and night chaperone counselor. She also volunteered reading with the Arkansas READ Program at Amboy Elementary School, North Little Rock, and Baseline Academy, Little Rock. She was actively involved in the Camp Robinson Women’s Group, the Camp Robinson “Voices of a Nation” Choir and the Black History Heritage Program. She also served as a member of the March Unit representing The National Guard of the United States in the Inauguration Parade of the 42nd President, William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton.

CW4 Lunon retired on September 30, 2017, with over 36 years of distinguished military service. After retirement CW4 Lunon continued to volunteer for the Arkansas Kids Read Literacy Program, On April 5, 2023, she received their Volunteer of the Year Award. She served as President of the Little Rock Alpha Gamma Chapter of Kappa Epsilon Psi Military Sorority, Incorporated for the last five years. Before the pandemic, the Alpha Gamma Chapter performed community service with Fishnet Ministry, preparing hot breakfast meals to serve homeless families in downtown Little Rock. The chapter also visits veterans’ that reside at the Arkansas State Veterans Home in North Little Rock and volunteers at the Arkansas Food Bank. She also volunteers with her Sorority with “My Vote is KEY,” where she registers citizens to vote. She is an active member of the Little Rock Branch NAACP (6019-B). She has served as the Election Supervisor Chair, active At-Large Member on the Executive Board and is now currently serving as the first Vice President. She is a member of the Justice Now Coalition, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1316 (VFW), National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETS) Little Rock Chapter #0108, Ban the Box and Get out the Vote Campaign. As a member of the Women Veterans Freedom Sings USA-Trailblazer Songwriters Class, CW4 Lunon was able to tell her military story and a song was produced “Born to be A Soldier.” Her vocalist is Ms. Hunter “Huntergril” Wolkonowski, who was one of the final two contestants on “American Idol.” This was a great opportunity for women to come together via Zoom to write songs based on their military experiences.

She currently volunteers with her church in several ministries such as, Leading Ladies of Faith, Intercessory Prayer, Social Action Ministry (SAM) and the Youth Ministry at the 2nd Baptist Church, under the leadership of Senior Pastor, Dr., Maurice Watson, 1709 John Barrow, Little Rock. CW4 Lunon currently resides in Little Rock, with her husband, Darryl and they have three sons, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. Darry Lunon II, Charles Jones, and Roderick Lunon. Grandchildren, Raven Gregory-Haamid, (Son-in-Law Saudi Haamid), Veronica Johnson, Sana’a Lunon, Darryl Lunon III, Chardene’ Jones, Lailiane Jones and Isaiah Jones. Great grandchildren; Camille Haamid and Tesla Howell.