New York Army Guard Chief Warrant Officer 5 Sean Fredericks, an East Greenbush resident, retires after nearly 30 years of service

Latham, NY (10/14/2026) — New York Army National Guard Warrant Officer 5 Sean Fredericks, an East Greenbush resident, ended his nearly 30-year career at a ceremony on Friday, October 9, at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham.

Fredericks, a veteran of the Middle East in 2025-2026, has served as the senior advisor to the New York Army National Guard personnel directorate.

Warrant officers are technical experts who serve in key leadership and staff positions in the Army. Chief Warrant Officer 5 is the top rank in the warrant officer corps.

Family members, friends, and fellow Soldiers attended the retirement ceremony to celebrate his career.

Col. Mark Frank, the New York Army National Guard chief of staff, praised Fredericks as an outstanding leader, "reaching the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5, is extremely rare. It represents the pinnacle of the Warrant Officer Corps. It means decades of study, technical expertise, and the kind of steady, unshakeable judgment that commanders rely on."

"Sean, thank you for being our premier HR professional, and thank you for all your hard work and dedication, with our response to the COVID-19 mission, the Asylum Seeker mission, and the Department of Corrections mission," Frank emphasized.

In his remarks, Fredericks thanked his family for their support during his career, as well as the Soldiers and civilians he works with in the military personnel office.

Fredericks also presented pocket watches to his children, thanking them for all their support through his years in the military.

Fredericks concluded, "We don't work in the Army. We serve in the Army; the distinction is crucial; it's calling, a commitment, and a privilege. It demands our best, our dedication, and our unwavering focus on the well-being of those we are sworn to support."

"Soldiers in this organization will continue to rise to the challenge, embracing innovation, prioritizing our Soldiers and families, while upholding the highest standard of service," he concluded.

Fredericks joined the Army in 1997 and served in Texas and Germany as a transmission system operator.

He joined the New York Army National Guard in 2002, trained as a personnel service's specialist, and became a full-time National Guard Soldier.

In 2006, he became a warrant officer, serving in the Adjutant General's Corps. Over the years, he has served in increasingly responsible positions in the New York Army National Guard's personnel office.

Fredericks has attended several military schools and holds an associate's degree in computer information systems.

His military awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, The Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, and the National Defense Service Medal.

He lives in East Greenbush with his wife Jennifer and their 3 children, Rowan, Ricker, and "R.J.," who is a Staff Sgt. in the Army.

He received the Meritorious Service Medal during the ceremony and the Legion of Merit in recognition of his exceptional career accomplishments.

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