Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that a veteran of the war in Afghanistan will be the new highest ranking non-commissioned officer of the 10,500 member New York Army National Guard. Command Sgt. Major David Piwowarski (photograph here), who currently serves as the command sergeant major for the Troy-based 42^nd Infantry, will replace Rochester resident Louis Wilson, a retired police officer, who will retire from the Army National Guard after 33-years of service. Piwowarski will serve as the senior enlisted advisor to Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York, on training and enlisted Soldier issues.

Command Sgt. Major David Piwowarski

“On behalf of all New Yorkers, I'm proud to welcome Command Sergeant Major David Piwowarski to his new post and commend him for taking on the many responsibilities that come with this position” Governor Cuomo said. “It is an honor for him to continue the great work of his predecessors and I am confident that he will help keep New York’s Army National Guard strong.”

"Command Sgt. Major Piwowarski has had a distinguished career and is uniquely qualified to continue the high level of leadership, initiative and dedication to our enlisted New York Army National Guard Soldiers that Command Sgt. Major Wilson embodied during his tenure as my senior enlisted advisor," said Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York.

Piwowarski has extensive experience with the Guard having served as a rifleman, platoon sergeant, company first sergeant, and as command sergeant major at the battalion, brigade, and division level. He is currently a military technician who works full-time in the New York National Guard headquarters in the New York National Guard's Joint Force headquarters' domestic operations office.

Piwowarski, who is originally from the Buffalo area, enlisted in the Army in 1981 and served in the 82^nd Airborne Division before joining the New York Army National Guard. In 2008, Piwowarski deployed to Afghanistan with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and served as the command sergeant major for Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix. This multi-national military force, headed by a New York Army National Guard general, was responsible for training thousands of Afghan National Army Soldiers throughout the country.

Piwowarski holds a dual bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from Buffalo State College. He is a 2004 graduate of the Army's Sergeants Major Academy.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

He and his wife Domenica live in Ballston Spa with their son Bryan and daughter Alexa.