OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma Army National Guardsman has been promoted to chief warrant officer 5, one of the rarest held positions in the state.

Oklahoma City native, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Teneshea Jones who serves at the Oklahoma National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Oklahoma City as a senior human resource warrant officer was promoted to chief warrant officer 5, June 2, 2024.

Less than one percent of warrant officers attain the rank of chief warrant officer 5 within the Oklahoma Army National Guard. In addition to the rarity of the position, the achievement is more remarkable considering that it was the first time it has been awarded to an African American female in the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

“It's overwhelming the support that I've received from everybody,” Jones said. “I'm so grateful and humbled by everybody's support, love and everything that they've shown me all these years, and just being here to show me love and support.”

Jones began her military career in the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1994 as a medical lab technician with the 245th Medical Company and later became a dental specialist in Detachment Six Headquarters State Area Command (STARC). In 1998 she became a dual-status Title-32 technician, working full-time in the United States Property and Fiscal Office (USPFO) and reclassified to a finance and accounting specialist.

Throughout her full-time career, Jones served in the personnel office, human resources office, and aviation and safety offices. She deployed with the 700th Brigade Support Battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003-2004. She completed Warrant Officer Candidate School in August 2007.

“Essentially [the Oklahoma National Guard] is my family and where I grew up,” Jones said. “Everything that I've learned, I've learned from somebody in the Guard.”

As a warrant officer and leader, Jones’ primary task is to serve as a technical expert, providing valuable skills, guidance, and expertise to commanders and organizations in their particular field.

While explaining the significance of her role as a warrant officer, Jones said, “The significance is to help establish esprit de corps and also our camaraderie within our cohort [warrant corps] and our branch.”