In this episode of COHORT W, host CW4 Jessie Morlan and CW5 Charmaine Hilliard, Assistant Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff of the Army, share a conversation that traces an extraordinary Army career and powerfully testifies to the impact of Warrant Officer Professional Military Education.

From her early days enlisting in Jasper, Texas, to her leadership at the highest levels of the Pentagon, CW5 Hilliard shares the lessons, experiences, and key PME moments that helped shape her into the senior leader she is today. Together, they explore what worked well in her professional military education journey, how PME prepared her for strategic leadership roles, and how the Army can modernize PME for the next generation of Warrant Officers.

Topics Covered:

• The importance of early professional development
• Lessons learned from deployments and operational assignments
• How PME shaped her growth from tactical to strategic leadership
• Insights from teaching Warrant Officer courses
• Preparation of Warrant Officers for enterprise-level leadership
• What PME should preserve—and where it must evolve

🎙️ COHORT W Podcast – Featured Resources & Links

Stay connected with the Warrant Officer Cohort and elevate your professional development with these curated resources featured on the COHORT W podcast.

🔥 Top Resources for Warrant Officers

📖 Strength in Knowledge Journal – Warrant Officer Journal
Explore current ideas, innovations, and research from across the cohort.
🔗 Read Now

🏛️ Warrant Officer Historical Foundation (WOHF)
Learn more about the legacy and future of the Warrant Officer Cohort and how you can support programs like this podcast.
🔗 Visit warrantofficerhistory.org

📲 Follow WOHF on Social Media

• Instagram: @WOHF1918
• Twitter: @WOHF1918
• LinkedIn: Warrant Officer Historical Foundation

🏫 United States Army Warrant Officer Career College (USAWOCC)
Explore Warrant Officer education, training, and course offerings.
🔗 USAWOCC Overview

🤝 United States Army Warrant Officer Association (USAWOA)
Stay connected with your professional association.
🔗 Visit usawoa.org
Facebook: United States Army Warrant Officer Association

🧠 Leadership Writing Resources

📝 The Harding Project
A community dedicated to building better writers and leaders.
🔗 Learn More

📘 CGSC Professional Writing Guide
Helpful guidance for military professionals looking to write and publish effectively.
🔗 Download PDF

🏛️ ARMYU Press
Home to professional military publications including NCO, Warrant Officer, and Military Review journals.
🔗 Visit Army University Press

🎵 Credits

🎼 Theme
Composed by SFC(R) Joshua DiStefano
🔗 joshdistefano.com

🎺 Ceremonial Music
Provided by The U.S. Army Band
🔗https://www.usarmyband.com/ceremonial-music-guide

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/

Preserve and educate!

In this compelling episode of COHORT W, host CW4 Jessie Morlan sits down with CW4 Ronald Carrion, Adjutant General Warrant Officer Intermediate Level Education–Follow On (WOILE-FO) Instructor, to explore the modernization of Professional Military Education through the lens of the Human Resources mission set.

With over 20 years of experience supporting warfighter readiness across Iraq, Afghanistan, AFRICOM, and beyond, CW4 Carrion brings a unique blend of operational depth and instructional expertise. As a leader shaping the future of HR Warrant Officers, he discusses the evolving role of the Adjutant General Corps, the critical skills needed for success in large-scale combat operations, and how PME must evolve to remain relevant and impactful.

🎯 Key topics include:

• The intersection of HR and warfighter readiness
• Adapting PME for a dynamic operational environment
• What future AG Warrant Officers need to lead effectively

Join us for an inside look at how one of the Army’s top HR instructors is shaping the next generation of leaders to meet the demands of tomorrow’s fight.

🎙️ COHORT W Podcast – Featured Resources & Links

Stay connected with the Warrant Officer Cohort and elevate your professional development with these curated resources featured on the COHORT W podcast.

🔥 Top Resources for Warrant Officers

📖 Strength in Knowledge Journal – Warrant Officer Journal
Explore current ideas, innovations, and discussions from across the cohort.
🔗 Read Now

🏛️ Warrant Officer Historical Foundation (WOHF)
Learn more about the legacy and future of the Warrant Officer Cohort and how you can support programs like this podcast.
🔗 Visit warrantofficerhistory.org

📲 Follow WOHF on Social Media

• Instagram: @WOHF1918
• Twitter: @WOHF1918
• LinkedIn: Warrant Officer Historical Foundation

🏫 United States Army Warrant Officer Career College (USAWOCC)
Explore Warrant Officer education, training, and course offerings.
🔗 USAWOCC Overview

🤝 United States Army Warrant Officer Association (USAWOA)
Stay connected with your professional association and join the conversation.
🔗 Visit usawoa.org
Facebook: United States Army Warrant Officer Association

🧠 Leadership & Writing Resources

📝 The Harding Project
A community dedicated to building better writers and leaders in uniform.
🔗 Learn More

📘 CGSC Professional Writing Guide
Helpful guidance for military professionals looking to write and publish effectively.
🔗 Download PDF

🏛️ Army University Press
Home to professional military publications including NCO, Warrant Officer, and Military Review journals.
🔗 Visit Army University Press

🎵 Podcast Credits

🎼 Theme Music
Composed by SFC(R) Joshua DiStefano
🔗 joshdistefano.com

🎺 Ceremonial Music
Provided by The U.S. Army Band
🔗

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/

Preserve and educate!

In this episode of COHORT W, host CW4 Jessie Morlan continues the conversation on the modernization of Warrant Officer Professional Military Education (PME) with a guest helping lead that transformation from the front lines of institutional training.

CW5 Stephen Napoli, Deputy Commandant of the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College, joins the show to share his unique perspective on evolving the education and development of Warrant Officers to meet the demands of tomorrow’s battlefield. From his start as an Aeroscout Observer in 1993 to his current role shaping PME for the entire cohort, CW5 Napoli brings operational insight, strategic vision, and decades of leadership experience.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• How WO PME is aligning with the Army’s future operational concepts
• The importance of adaptability in Warrant Officer PME
• Lessons from CW5 Napoli’s career—from cockpit to classroom

Tune in for an in-depth conversation on preparing the next generation of Warrant Officers for success in a dynamic, multi-domain environment.

Meet The Harding Project!

https://www.hardingproject.com/p/welcome-to-the-harding-project

A helpful writing guide from CGSC:

https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/home/Resources/CGSC-Professional-Writing-Guide.pdf

Army University Press:

https://www.armyupress.army.mil/

You can find more information about the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation at https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org

Please visit us on Instagram @WOHF1918, Twitter @WOHF1918, and the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation LinkedIn page.

Visit warrantofficerhistory.org to learn more about how you can help support the foundation and programs like this.

Stay current with Warrant Officer ideas! All current Strength in Knowledge Journal Issues are posted at https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Warrant-Officer-Journal/

To learn more information about Warrant Officers, visit USAWOCC: https://armyuniversity.edu/wocc/courses?p=Overview

Please also feel free to connect with the United States Army Warrant Officer Association at https://usawoa.org and visit their Facebook page @UnitedStatesArmyWarrantOfficerAssociation or the US Army Warrant Officer Career College @TheU.S.ArmyWarrantOfficerCareerCollege

Theme music (intro &  outro) composed by SFC(R) Joshua DiStefano. https://joshdistefano.com/

Ceremonial music provided by https://www.usarmyband.com/ceremonial-music-guide

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/
 
 Preserve and educate!

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/

Preserve and educate!

In this episode of Cohort W, host CW4 Jessie Morlan continues the deep dive into the modernization of Warrant Officer Professional Military Education (PME), this time through the lens of Military Intelligence.

Joining the conversation is CW5 Peter Davis, the 9th Chief Warrant Officer of the Military Intelligence Corps and the Command Chief Warrant Officer of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE). As the first-ever Signals Intelligence Technician to hold this position since its inception in 1999, CW5 Davis brings a fresh and critical perspective to shaping the future of MI Warrant Officers.

With the battlefield evolving and intelligence playing a pivotal role in future conflicts, how must PME adapt to keep Warrant Officers at the cutting edge? In this episode, CW5 Davis discusses the modernization of MI training, the skills Warrant Officers need to stay ahead, and the challenges of preparing the cohort for the complexities of tomorrow’s fight.

Tune in for a compelling conversation about leadership, intelligence, and the evolution of PME in the ever-changing operational landscape.

Listen now!

Meet The Harding Project!
https://www.hardingproject.com/p/welcome-to-the-harding-project

A helpful writing guide from CGSC:
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/home/Resources/CGSC-Professional-Writing-Guide.pdf

Army University Press:

https://www.armyupress.army.mil/

You can find more information about the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation at https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org

Please visit us on Instagram @WOHF1918, Twitter @WOHF1918, and on the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation LinkedIn page.

Visit warrantofficerhistory.org to learn more about how you can help support the foundation and programs like this.

Stay current with Warrant Officer ideas! All current Strength in Knowledge Journal Issues are posted at https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Warrant-Officer-Journal/

 To learn more information about Warrant Officers, visit USAWOCC: https://armyuniversity.edu/wocc/courses?p=Overview

Please also feel free to connect with the United States Army Warrant Officer Association at https://usawoa.org and visit their Facebook page @UnitedStatesArmyWarrantOfficerAssociation or the US Army Warrant Officer Career College @TheU.S.ArmyWarrantOfficerCareerCollege

Theme music (intro &  outtro) composed by SFC(R) Joshua DiStefano. https://joshdistefano.com/

Ceremonial music provided by https://www.usarmyband.com/ceremonial-music-guide

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/

Preserve and educate!

In this episode of COHORT W, host CW4 Jessie Morlan sits down with CW5 Carlos Terrones, the Command Chief Warrant Officer of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, to discuss tackling one of the most pressing issues in the Warrant Officer Cohort: the modernization of Warrant Officer Professional Military Education (PME).

With the battlefield evolving and technology advancing at an unprecedented pace, the Army is shifting toward Multi-Domain Operations. But how do Warrant Officers and institutions ensure that Warrant Officer PME is not only keeping up but also leading the way? CW5 Terrones brings decades of leadership and operational experience, from enlisting as a Light-Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic in 1993 to serving as a strategic advisor at one of the Army’s premier institutions for military education, to foster the required developments.

Join us for an insightful discussion on the future of Warrant Officer PME, the skills Warrant Officers need to thrive in a rapidly changing environment, and how the Army is preparing its technical experts to drive the future fight.

Quick-Fire Observation Tool:   

https://www.army.mil/article/273050/quick_fire_observations_rapidly_resolving_issues_and_informing_the_force

 Meet The Harding Project!

https://www.hardingproject.com/p/welcome-to-the-harding-project

 A helpful writing guide from CGSC:

https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/home/Resources/CGSC-Professional-Writing-Guide.pdf

 Army University Press:

https://www.armyupress.army.mil/

You can find more information about the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation at https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org

Please visit us on Instagram @WOHF1918, Twitter @WOHF1918, and on the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation LinkedIn page.

Visit warrantofficerhistory.org to learn more about how you can help support the foundation and programs like this. 

Stay current with Warrant Officer ideas! All current Strength in Knowledge Journal Issues are posted at https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Warrant-Officer-Journal/

To learn more information about Warrant Officers, visit USAWOCC: https://armyuniversity.edu/wocc/courses?p=Overview

Please also feel free to connect with the United States Army Warrant Officer Association at https://usawoa.org and visit their Facebook page @UnitedStatesArmyWarrantOfficerAssociation or the US Army Warrant Officer Career College @TheU.S.ArmyWarrantOfficerCareerCollege

Theme music (intro & outro) composed by SFC(R) Joshua DiStefano. https://joshdistefano.com/

Ceremonial music provided by https://www.usarmyband.com/ceremonial-music-guide

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/

Preserve and educate!

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/

Preserve and educate!

Welcome to Season 4 of COHORT W, the podcast exploring the Warrant Officer Cohort—past, present, and future. Host CW4 Jessie Morlan kicks off the new season with a familiar voice: CW3 Suzanne Albert.

As the FY23-24 Warrant Officer Historical Foundation Fellow, former COHORT W host, and current Department Head of Strategy and Doctrine at the U.S. Warrant Officer Career College, CW3 Albert has played a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of warrant officers. In this episode, she shares insights from her time behind the mic in Season 3, discusses the evolution of professional military education (PME), and offers her vision for preparing the cohort for the future fight.

Join us as CW3 Albert reflects on lessons learned from past guests, the surprises she encountered along the way, and the challenges ahead for Warrant Officer development. Don’t miss this engaging discussion on leadership, innovation, and the future modernization of Warrant Officer PME.

Meet The Harding Project!

https://www.hardingproject.com/p/welcome-to-the-harding-project

A helpful writing guide from CGSC:

https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/home/Resources/CGSC-Professional-Writing-Guide.pdf

Army University Press:

https://www.armyupress.army.mil/

You can find more information about the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation at https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org

Please visit us on Instagram @WOHF1918, Twitter @WOHF1918, and on the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation LinkedIn page.

Visit warrantofficerhistory.org to learn more about how you can help support the foundation and programs like this.

Stay current with Warrant Officer ideas! All current Strength in Knowledge Journal Issues are posted at https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Warrant-Officer-Journal/

To learn more information about Warrant Officers, visit USAWOCC: https://armyuniversity.edu/wocc/courses?p=Overview

Please also feel free to connect with the United States Army Warrant Officer Association at https://usawoa.org and visit their Facebook page @UnitedStatesArmyWarrantOfficerAssociation or the US Army Warrant Officer Career College @TheU.S.ArmyWarrantOfficerCareerCollege

Theme music (intro &  outtro) composed by SFC(R) Joshua DiStefano. https://joshdistefano.com/

Ceremonial music provided by https://www.usarmyband.com/ceremonial-music-guide

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/

Preserve and educate!

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/

Preserve and educate!

🎙 Trailer – Introducing CW4 Jessie Morlan: A New Era for COHORT W

Welcome to a new season of COHORT W with your host, CW4 Jessie Morlan! A seasoned Army National Guard Warrant Officer, musician, and passionate storyteller, CW4 Morlan brings over 30 years of leadership and service to the mic. In this trailer, he shares his journey from commanding the 246th Army Band to his current role as the WOHF Fellow.

Get ready for a season focused on Professional Military Education (PME) Modernization, in which Chief Morlan willl explore how Warrant Officers are shaping the future of Army learning. From innovative training models to bridging generational gaps in leadership, CW4 Morlan will connect past, present, and future as he amplifies the voices and experiences of Warrant Officers making a difference.

Tune in to hear inspiring stories, candid conversations, and practical insights that drive change across the force.

Subscribe now and join the conversation!
https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org .

Please visit us on Instagram @WOHF1918, Twitter @WOHF1918, and on the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation LinkedIn page.

Visit warrantofficerhistory.org to learn more about how you can help support the foundation and programs like this.

Stay current with Warrant Officer ideas! All current Strength in Knowledge Journal Issues are posted at https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Warrant-Officer-Journal/

 To learn more information about Warrant Officers, visit USAWOCC: https://armyuniversity.edu/wocc/courses?p=Overview

Please also feel free to connect with the United States Army Warrant Officer Association at https://usawoa.org and visit their Facebook page @UnitedStatesArmyWarrantOfficerAssociation or the US Army Warrant Officer Career College @TheU.S.ArmyWarrantOfficerCareerCollege

Theme music (intro &  outtro) composed by SFC(R) Joshua DiStefano. https://joshdistefano.com/

Ceremonial music provided by https://www.usarmyband.com/ceremonial-music-guide

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/

Preserve and educate!

CW5 Fatima Nettles and SFC Leyton Summerlin discuss the role of the Warrant Officer in stewardship, innovation, and subject matter expertise - and present resources such as The Harding Project, professional journals, environmental changes that support idea dissemination. Of note, we also discuss the soon-to-arrive Line of Departure website and Guide to Professional Discourse.

Meet The Harding Project!
https://www.hardingproject.com/p/welcome-to-the-harding-project

A helpful writing guide from CGSC:
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/home/Resources/CGSC-Professional-Writing-Guide.pdf

A great article by SFC Summerlin on Line of Departure and the Muddy Boots Forum; https://www.hardingproject.com/p/throw-archaic-reading-lists-in-the

You can find more information about the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation at https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org .

Please visit us on Instagram @WOHF1918, Twitter @WOHF1918, and on the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation LinkedIn page.

Visit warrantofficerhistory.org to learn more about how you can help support the foundation and programs like this.

Stay current with Warrant Officer ideas! All current Strength in Knowledge Journal Issues are posted at https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Warrant-Officer-Journal/

 To learn more information about Warrant Officers, visit USAWOCC: https://armyuniversity.edu/wocc/courses?p=Overview

Please also feel free to connect with the United States Army Warrant Officer Association at https://usawoa.org and visit their Facebook page @UnitedStatesArmyWarrantOfficerAssociation or the US Army Warrant Officer Career College @TheU.S.ArmyWarrantOfficerCareerCollege

Theme music (intro &  outtro) composed by SFC(R) Joshua DiStefano. https://joshdistefano.com/

Ceremonial music provided by https://www.usarmyband.com/ceremonial-music-guide

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/

Preserve and educate!

Steve Leonard is a retired O6 and Army Strategist who was shaped by Warrant Officers early in his career. This, along with his upbringing, informed his bold relationship with risk. In Episode 10, we discuss lessons he learned from CW4(Ret) Chuck Hunley, with special emphasis on controlling emotions. And we talk about the use of anger and how it can lead to humor, wisdom, mentorship, and meaningful change. 

Doctrine Man Comic:
https://www.instagram.com/doctrine_man/?hl=en

10 Life Lessons in Leadership from CW4(Ret) Chuck Hunley:
https://news.clearancejobs.com/2019/03/26/tools-of-the-trade-10-life-lessons-in-leadership/

The article on anger Steve and I discuss:
https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/do-this-to-burn-off-anger-or-frustration-neuroscience-says-youre-only-making-a-bad-situation-worse.html

You can find more information about the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation at https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org .

Please visit us on Instagram @WOHF1918, Twitter @WOHF1918, and on the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation LinkedIn page.

Visit warrantofficerhistory.org to learn more about how you can help support the foundation and programs like this.

Stay current with Warrant Officer ideas! All current Strength in Knowledge Journal Issues are posted at https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Warrant-Officer-Journal/

 To learn more information about Warrant Officers, visit USAWOCC: https://armyuniversity.edu/wocc/courses?p=Overview

Please also feel free to connect with the United States Army Warrant Officer Association at https://usawoa.org and visit their Facebook page @UnitedStatesArmyWarrantOfficerAssociation or the US Army Warrant Officer Career College @TheU.S.ArmyWarrantOfficerCareerCollege

Theme music (intro &  outtro) composed by SFC(R) Joshua DiStefano. https://joshdistefano.com/

Ceremonial music provided by https://www.usarmyband.com/ceremonial-music-guide

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/

Preserve and educate!

In Episode 9, WO1 David Hallmark talks about cultural and generational changes in leadership perspectives, navigating disagreements productively, and building values-based cultures. 

He discusses tools that have assisted him in navigating hard discussions, planning, and overcoming obstacles. We discuss the difference between failure and quitting and the need to distinguish between the two.

The Obstacle Is The Way Ryan Holiday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snmh_IJL8M0

Iron and the Soul Henry Rollins

https://www.oldtimestrongman.com/articles/the-iron-by-henry-rollins/

You can find more information about the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation at https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org .

Please visit us on Instagram @WOHF1918, Twitter @WOHF1918, and on the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation LinkedIn page.

Visit warrantofficerhistory.org to learn more about how you can help support the foundation and programs like this.

Stay current with Warrant Officer ideas! All current Strength in Knowledge Journal Issues are posted at https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Warrant-Officer-Journal/

 To learn more information about Warrant Officers, visit USAWOCC: https://armyuniversity.edu/wocc/courses?p=Overview

Please also feel free to connect with the United States Army Warrant Officer Association at https://usawoa.org and visit their Facebook page @UnitedStatesArmyWarrantOfficerAssociation or the US Army Warrant Officer Career College @TheU.S.ArmyWarrantOfficerCareerCollege

Theme music (intro &  outtro) composed by SFC(R) Joshua DiStefano. https://joshdistefano.com/

Ceremonial music provided by https://www.usarmyband.com/ceremonial-music-guide

https://www.warrantofficerhistory.org/

Preserve and educate!