RICHMOND, Va. –
Chief Master Sgt. John F. Nye took responsibility as the Virginia National Guard Command Senior Enlisted Leader from Chief Master Sgt. Kelly B. Reich during a ceremony April 11, 2025, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the ceremony which included an exchange of colors representing the change of responsibility from Reich to Nye as the VNG’s senior noncommissioned officer.
Reich now serves as the Joint Senior Enlisted Leader of the National Guard Bureau Joint Staff where she is the principal military advisor on all enlisted matters affecting health of the force and enlisted professional development within the NGB Joint Staff.
“The enlisted corps is the absolute strength of everything we do,” Ring said. He continued that the mission at the component, state and joint level can’t be accomplished without the expertise and the “muscle and strength” of the enlisted corps.
It is the NCO corps that is at the top of the enlisted leadership and is the most important and integral part of our U.S. armed forces,” he said
Ring commended Reich for rising from junior enlisted to senior NCO in some of the most complex mission sets in the entire Department of Defense at the same time she managed a very successful civilian career.
“Thanks for being a great battle buddy, thanks for keeping on eye on the most important element of what we do which is our Soldiers and Airmen, and thanks for your exquisite expertise for missions not just here in Virginia but around the globe,” Ring said. “Chief Reich continues to serve with the highest level of expertise.”
He acknowledged Nye’s extensive experience in the Air National Guard and how he could now look beyond and into the Army National Guard formation so they can benefit from his leadership and experience. He added the Virginia is fortunate to have Nye as part of the command team as the VNG looks to face the challenges both for domestic and overseas operations.
Ring recognized the service and sacrifice of the families of both Reich and Nye, and Reich thanked her husband for his crucial support as well as those she has served with over her career.
“While it might have been a colonel or general officer who selected me for this position, I would not be here without the enlisted who chose to follow me. You believed in me, provided me with a sense of purpose,” Reich said. “You challenged me to push myself outside of my comfort zone and you inspired me to continue to serve. Thank you for that.”
Reich stressed the importance of empowering leaders at every level.
“Great leaders know the path they wish to take and know how to navigate it, but they empower members to make the decision. That empowerment leads to being a more purpose driven organization. I challenge you to continue to do that, and do it a little better every day.”
Nye echoed the importance of the support of his family in his career and thanked Ring for the opportunity to serve in the new position.
“It is an absolute honor,” Nye said.
He recognized the importance of mentoring from senior leaders, but he also stressed the importance of
“Normally you think about those who mentor you from above, but I will tell you that is not how it works all the time. It is not always those above you that give you all the info, all of the feedback you need to be a better leader.”
He credited several enlisted Airmen who helped him learn about people and how to lead.
“No matter what your rank, you can learn a lot from those above you and those below,” Nye said.
Nye said there are several lines of effort he plans to focus on as the CSEL.
“We must coach, mentor, guide and instruct our subordinates,” he said. “We have to have those conversations, and it can’t be just when evaluations come around. They have to know what they have done right, what they have done wrong and how to fix those things.”
He also said leaders need to make sure they are training for the mission.
“Whatever our mission, whether it is Army or Air, whatever your unit does, you have to train directly for it,” he said.
Nye stressed that traditional status National Guard personnel are provided 39 days a year to conduct training, so leaders must put together training programs that focus on mission requirements.
Nye said he plans to visit units with the senior enlisted leaders for the Army and Air Guard to learn more about training and unit missions.
~ Read more about Chief Nye and Chief Reich at
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~ Photos on Flickr at
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~ Video livestream on Facebook at
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