With 37 years in the Army as a military intelligence soldier, retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Phyllis Wilson built a legacy of leadership, innovation, and dedication. That legacy was honored recently when Wilson was inducted into the Honorable Order of the Eagle Rising Society, one of the most prestigious recognitions for warrant officers.

When she learned she was receiving the award, Wilson’s reaction was as humble as it was heartfelt.

“I almost fell over,” she told MOAA. “I was the 27th person ever selected, and it was very overwhelming.”

She credits much of her journey to her mentors – notably Chief Warrant Officer 4 Don Hess, who founded the U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association – whose guidance helped shape her career. Hess received the Eagle Rising honor in 2005; the Eagle Rising Society was founded the year before in a partnership between MOAA and the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College on Fort Rucker, Ala., which hosted the July 11 award ceremony.

Wilson said it was an emotional return to her roots – “it felt like coming home.”

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She received the award from Col. Kevin McHugh, commandant of the college, and Col. Jim O’Brien, USAF (Ret), MOAA’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Wilson “exemplifies what it means to make the most of every single day in service to others,” O’Brien said. “Her professional achievements and dedication to lifelong learning are nothing short of inspiring – leaving you thinking, I need to do more. She motivates those around her through her remarkable drive, unwavering commitment, and standard of excellence.”

Making an Impact

Wilson admitted she was nervous about delivering her speech, but a touching surprise made the day even more special. Years earlier, she had given a customized pen to a young warrant officer, Docaser Bennett, who served as the event’s master of ceremonies. Now a chief warrant officer 4, Bennett, pictured here with Wilson, revealed she’d been carrying the pen ever since.

“That moment will stay with me forever,” Wilson said.

Her career has been defined by more than just longevity: She is the first Army warrant officer to serve on the board of directors for the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). And in 2022, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin appointed her to the Reserve Forces Policy Board, further cementing her influence on military policy.

Wilson has been recognized beyond the Army as well. She was inducted into the Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame in 2017 and the U.S. Veterans Hall of Fame in 2022. She has served on the board of directors for Policy Vets since 2020, where her expertise helps shape decisions by government agencies, Congress, and veterans’ organizations on critical policy issues.

Of all her memories in uniform, some stand out with particular pride, such as watching her sons graduate from jump school and promoting her own child while deployed in Iraq.

“I did like jumping out of airplanes,” she added. 

Wilson’s commitment to serving others remains strong. She is the president of the Military Women’s Memorial and Foundation, the only national memorial chartered by Congress to honor the stories of the more than 3 million American women who have defended the nation, from the Revolutionary War to the present.

“Our mission is to educate America on the courage, service, and, at times, the sacrifice of these women,” Wilson said. “It’s the only place that tells their collective story, and I want everyone to learn about it.”

About the Award

The Order of the Eagle Rising Society was established in 2004 by MOAA and the U.S. Warrant Officer Career College. Learn more about award criteria and find details on past recipients at the Eagle Rising Society website.