Newport News native Daren Johnson returned to Fort Eustis to be pinned as a chief warrant officer 5, at the same base he first served the Army Reserve as a recruit 20 years ago.
“This is where is all began,” Johnson said.
Johnson was promoted during a ceremony Saturday. The U.S. Army Reserve Command confirmed Johnson, 38, will be the youngest actively serving chief warrant officer 5, beating the average age by 16 years.
“There are so many people in this area — family, friends, mentors — who saw in me what I couldn’t see. I truly owe my career to those people because it was them who shaped my career, who told me the do’s and don’ts, who guided me, when in reality I was just along for the ride,” Johnson said.
Johnson attended Denbigh High School’s Aviation Academy, and in 2002, before he even graduated from high school, his father allowed Johnson to enlist in the Army Reserve. His exposure to aviation through the Newport News STEM academy put the 17-year-old on a fast-tracked military career.
“They say I am less than 2% of less than 2%,” Johnson said.
The Warrant Officer Corps, which serves in manager positions as technical and tactical experts, make up roughlyy 2% of the Army Reserve’s total force. Of that, only about 2% of warrant officers go on to attain the rank of chief warrant officer 5, with 113 serving across the branch.
Johnson spent the early years of his career training to be a flight engineer or a crew chief for Chinook helicopters.
“I was 19 years old and had no plans to be a pilot. But some guys in the unit took an interest in me and my hunger for knowledge,” Johnson said.
Two people — Bill Basabilbaso and Jim MacVaugh — encouraged Johnson to consider piloting. Johnson gave it a shot, passing the Army’s flight test by the skin of his teeth with a 92. The minimum pass score for the test was 90 with top scores coming in at 160.
“But I passed, and the rest is history,” Johnson said with a laugh.
Johnson graduated from flight school and served in inactive reserves until 2014, then transferred to active guard.
His time with the service has taken him on missions to all lower 48 states, Puerto Rico and Africa, as well as deployments to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. He recently returned from a mission to Africa, in which he flew a C-12 V-model plane back to the U.S., traveling over Europe, Iceland, Greenland and Canada.
“It was amazing. It was something I daydreamed about. Having the chance to fly like that was the best experience ever,” Johnson said.
The Army Reserve offers pilots four tracks on which they can steer their careers — instructor pilot, maintenance test pilot, aviation safety officer or aviation mission survivability officer. Johnson completed all four.
“Some will take you out of the cockpit. Some will take you on deployments. But you have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone, taking on a new responsibility or something that may not be in your purview,” Johnson said.
But Johnson never aimed to become a chief warrant officer 5.
“I never when into it chasing trophies or a title. Your work will speak for itself and the people you work with will propel your career. So, instead of stepping on toes to climb up, you reach down to pull somebody up with you. You all climb together,” Johnson said.
To become a chief warrant officer 5, a service member must be recommended to the promotional board. The board takes into consideration time in service, education, skill certifications, performance and career progression.
“Sometimes, if you hang around long enough, they just give you a rank — this isn’t one of those,” Johnson said with a laugh. “You have to do things that set you apart, because on paper, most people look the same. You have to make yourself relevant, go above and beyond. Not only do you want to be the person always raising their hand, but you have to own the responsibilities with your performance level and your performance potential,” Johnson said.
Following Saturday’s ceremony, Johnson will report to the U.S. Army Reserve Command at Fort Bragg. He will serve as the command’s aviation maintenance officer.
Professionally, Johnson said he has reached the mountain top. And the view is “larger than life.”
“At the start of my career, I was like a child standing on a giant’s shoulder. Whereas now, I’m recognized as that giant with the potential to put children on my shoulder. I am now that titan with seat at the table,” Johnson said.
In reflecting on his career to date, he said the most challenging aspect was getting past obstacles he created in his own mind.
“There were times where I either doubted myself or didn’t think I had what it took to get to the next level — being less than confident, less than comfortable, and not thinking I had what it took,” Johnson said.
Even now, he said he still feels like the 19-year-old taking the flight exam, with no idea what opportunities lay before him.
“But my village, they saw it in me. It wasn’t if I made chief warrant officer 5. It was when I made chief warrant officer 5,” Johnson said.
Caitlyn Burchett, caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com
