Description
The Adjutant General is the strategic leader of the state’s military forces, which are comprised of the Rhode Island Army and Air National Guard, and the State Historic Militia. The Adjutant General’s primary responsibility is to ensure that Soldiers and Airmen are well-equipped, trained, and led, so they can perform their federal and state military duties and remain relevant well into the future.
Major responsibilities of the Adjutant General, in his capacity as the Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard, include: Mobilization, Force Structure, Equipment Modernization, Training Management, Facility Management, Military Construction, Officer and Non-Commissioned Officer Career Management, Personnel Administration, Family Assistance Programs, Special Programs, Military property and Army/Air National Guard Operations.
The Adjutant General maintains close association and communication with the National Guard Bureau, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Air Force, Northern Command, Air Mobility Command, and Cyber Command. Associations and memberships may include all veterans’ organizations, as well as professional military organizations. Most notably he maintains active participation in the Adjutant General Association of the United States and the National Guard Association of the United States.
Biography
Major General Christopher P. Callahan assumed his duties as The Adjutant General, Rhode Island on 5 August 2015. He also serves as the Commanding General, Rhode Island National Guard. He is responsible for the mission readiness of all Rhode Island Army and Air National Guard units for both federal and state missions.
General Callahan has served in a variety of command and staff positions during his career. He was commissioned through the Early Commissioning Program into the United States Army National Guard in May, 1984. General Callahan has commanded Charlie Company, 1st Battalion 126th Aviation; Headquarters Commander 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation as well as Commander for Rhode Island Headquarters State Area Command Aviation Division. In 2003 he became the Commander of the 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Combat Support Aviation Battalion. In 2005 General Callahan commanded Task Force Dragonwing Aviation Battalion in Balad, Iraq in support of Iraqi Freedom III. This unit was selected as the Army National Guard Unit of the year in 2005. General Callahan served as the State Army Aviation Officer for the Rhode Island National Guard from 2006 until March 2011 and as the Director of Operations/J3 for the Rhode Island National Guard from April 2011 to April 2014. Prior to this assignment General Callahan served as the Brigade Commander of 56th Troop Command when he was appointed by the Governor as The Adjutant General.
EDUCATION:
1986 Fitchburg State College, Bachelors of Science, Communications, Fitchburg, Massachusetts
2008 United States Army War College, Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
ASSIGNMENTS:
October 1986 – June 1988, Assistant S-3, HSC 122 AHB
June 1988 – November 1990, Aeroscout Platoon Leader, B Co. 1/126th
November 1990 – January 1994, Company Commander, C Co. 1/126th
January 1994 – February 1996, Company Commander, HHSC 1/126th
February 1996 – June 1999, Airspace Management Officer, HQ STARC Aviation Division
June 1999 – June 2000, Standardization Officer, HQ STARC Aviation Division
June 2000 – August 2002, Operations Officer, HQ STARC Aviation Division
August 2002 – January 2003, Commander, HQ STARC Aviation Division
January 2003 – October 2004, Commander, 1-126th CSAB
October 2004 – March 2006, Commander, 1-126th CSAB, OIFIII, Balad, Iraq
March 2006 – March 2011, Director of Aviation and Safety, RIARNG
April 2011 – April 2014, J3/ Director of Operations
May 2014 – July 2015, Brigade Commander, 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island National Guard
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Master Army Aviator
Flight Hours: 3,500
Aircraft flown: OH-6, UH-1, UH-60, C-12
Pilot wings from: Fort Rucker, Alabama
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Master Army Aviator Badge
Bronze Star Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (2nd OLC)
Army Commendation Medal (2nd OLC)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon
Rhode Island Star
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS:
Member, West Bay YMCA Board of Management
Member, Narragansett Bay Chapter, Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA)
Member, National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS)
Member, National Guard Association of Rhode Island (NGARI)
Leadership Rhode Island
Assistant Head Coach, East Greenwich High School Boys Lacrosse
United States Lacrosse Association
Positive Coaching Alliance
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant 19 May 1984
First Lieutenant 18 May 1987
Captain 1 December 1990
Major 13 June 1996
Lieutenant Colonel 26 October 2000
Colonel 6 July 2005
Brigadier General 5 August 2015
Major General 22 June 2017
Description
Performs duties related to warrant officer education, management, recruiting and career enhancement including equal opportunity, morale, welfare, discipline, performance, training, awards and recognition. Responsible for formulating and executing the policies and procedures which direct how Warrant Officers of the ARNG are appointed, assigned, evaluated, trained, promoted and separated. Includes reviewing regulations and directives from DA, NGB and other higher headquarters determining local impact and preparing local implementation directives.
Ensures proper assignments are matched with individual potential. Provides management assistance and advice on appropriate Warrant Officer personnel actions. Plans and coordinates the staffing of Warrant Officer positions with State JFHQ, MSC, and field commanders. Coordinates with the MILPO on personnel matters affecting Warrant Officers. Guides individual Warrant Officers in meeting their career objectives.
Serves as the principle advisor, counselor, and mentor for all other senior warrant officers. Responsible for developing and implementing a sustaining sponsorship and mentorship program for Warrant Officer Candidates and junior Warrant Officers, that is exportable to all subordinate commands.
Biography
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Thomas E. McNulty is Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Rhode Island Army National Guard. In this role, he serves on the Adjutant General’s staff as the state’s senior ranking warrant officer and oversees the morale, welfare, training, administration, selection, and management of all warrant officers in Rhode Island. He serves on the Adjutant General’s personal staff as an advisor on all warrant officer issues, policies and initiatives.
CW5 McNulty began his military career by enlisting in the Massachusetts Air National Guard in January 1984. Assigned with the 267th Combat Communication Squadron based in Wellesley MA he was a trained ground radio communications specialists.
Upon being selected in 1991 to attend flight school Mr. McNulty transferred to the US Army Reserve, B Company 4/158th Regiment located at Moore Army Airfield, FT Devens, MA. Mr. McNulty performed duties as a pilot with the USAR until 1996. Upon the divestiture of Aviation assets from the Army Reserve he transferred to the 126th Aviation Battalion within the Rhode Island National Guard. As a warrant officer in the Rhode Island National Guard, Mr. McNulty has served in a variety of capacities as both a rotary and fixed wing aviator. Duty positions have included Instructor Pilot, Aviation Mission Survivability Officer, Safety Officer and Medevac pilot.
CW5 McNulty is a Master Army Aviator and has accumulated of three thousand eight hundred flight hours. He has mobilized in support of the following missions, Operation Noble Eagle (2003-05, FT Benning GA), Operation Iraqi Freedom (2008-09, Kuwait), Operation New Dawn (2011, Iraq), and Operation Inherent Resolve (2017-18, Kuwait). He is qualified in the UH-1 Huey and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters as well as the C-12 Huron and C-23 Sherpa Airplanes.
CW5 McNulty holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication from Westfield State University and currently resides with his wife Nancy in Abington, Massachusetts.
Bio
Command Sergeant Major Michael S. Wong was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He enlisted into the Army Reserves on 18 October 1983 and attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon completion of training, he was awarded the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 11B, Infantry. In 1990, CSM Wong joined the Rhode Island Army National Guard and was selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course. Upon completion of training, he was awarded the MOS of 18B, Special Forces Weapons Sergeant.
CSM Wong’s military assignments and duty positions include Company C, 3/35th Infantry Brigade (SEP), Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts and was promoted to Staff Sergeant as Platoon Leader; in Company A, 2/19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Middletown, Rhode Island, he was promoted to Sergeant Major as Company Sergeant Major; in Special Operations Detachment-Global, Coventry, Rhode Island, he was promoted to Command Sergeant Major as Senior Enlisted Advisor. CSM Wong has mobilized and supported operations in Iceland, Canada, Kenya, Oman, Bosnia, Kuwait, Kosovo, Iraq and Syria.
CSM Wong is a graduate from the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center Special Forces Qualification Course, Special Forces Selection and Assessment, Static line Jumpmaster Course, Air Assault, Combat Lifesavers Course, the United States Army Sergeants Majors Academy, Advanced Non-Commissioned Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Course, and Primary Leadership and Development Course.
CSM Wong’s awards include the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (7th award), the Army Achievement Medal (3rd award), the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (6th award), the National Defense Service medal w/bronze service star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2nd award), Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal w/two campaign stars, Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal w/campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/M device (4th award) and 30 year device gold hourglass, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (5th award), Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (4th award), NATO Medal (2nd award), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Special Forces Tab, Kenyan, Mexican, German, United Kingdom, Netherland, Kuwait, Polish, Italian and Dominican Parachutist Badge.
CSM Wong has been employed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a State Trooper for over 25 years. He is assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Airwing as a Tactical Flight Officer with over 200 hrs of rotary wing aircraft flight hours.
CSM Wong has received a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Curry College, Milton, MA.
CSM Wong currently resides in Springfield, Massachusetts with his wife Kristina, daughter Catherine and twin boys Joseph and Vincent.