Pingao retires after 26 years of service

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – Most Americans never serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Of those who do, most choose not to make it a career.

1st Sgt. Joseph Pingao served for more than a quarter of a century—26 years to be precise.

Pingao formally retired from the New Mexico Army National Guard during a July 30, 2021, ceremony at the Rio Rancho Readiness Center.

His family, friends, and Soldiers of his last unit—the 64th Civil Support Team (WMD)—filled the chairs. Col. Nathaniel Carper, the NMARNG Chief of Staff, attended as the senior currently serving Guard leader.

A veritable “who’s who” list of retired NMARNG members also came to offer Pingao congratulations.

Retired Brig. Gen. Jack Fox, former Deputy Adjutant General of New Mexico, and his wife Marvine led the emeritus contingent, which included retired Col. Thomas Gonzales and seven retired sergeants major: Kenneth Adair, Matt Aragon, Rudy Checkley, Richard Eicherly, William Griego, Kevin Myers, and Mark Vigil.

Fox offered a verbal final Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report for Pingao.

“He’s brave, he’s bold, he’s firm, and he’s fair,” Fox said. “He’s everything a leader should be.”

Lt. Col. Anthony Lopez, the Administrative Officer of the 515th Regional Training Institute in Santa Fe, served as the presiding official. Lopez recently finished command of the 64th CST, a tour which overlapped Pingao’s tenure as the unit first sergeant.

After the national anthem and invocation, Lopez began the ceremony by reading Pingao’s biography.

Pingao was born in the Philippines in 1971. He and his siblings emigrated to the U.S. in 1987. Pingao’s late father served in the Navy for 28 years. Pingao joined the Army in 1995.

After graduating from Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training, and the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga., Pingao was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and subsequently saw duty with the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Following a tour in Alaska, Pingao returned to Fort Benning to complete the Jumpmaster School and assume duty as an instructor at the Airborne School.

While serving as an Airborne instructor, Pingao caught the attention of one of his students—newly-promoted Brig. Gen. Kenny Montoya, recently appointed as the Adjutant General of New Mexico.

Montoya, impressed by Pingao’s leadership skills, convinced him to transfer to the NMARNG.

Pingao instructed at the Regional Training Institute; worked in the Plans, Operations, and Training Directorate (G-3); served as a Platoon Sergeant in 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry (which included another MFO tour in the Sinai); and became the First Sergeant of the 64th CST.

Pingao organized several parachute drops for Montoya. One such drop included Lopez.

“I said that I had not jumped in ten years,” Lopez said. “Everybody said to go see Staff Sgt. Pingao for a refresher course. He did everything in sequence, by the numbers. He acted like he was instructing an entire group instead of one person. To be honest, I was a little intimidated.”

To further complicate matters, that jump was from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, something Lopez had never done.

“There was Staff Sgt. Pingao in the helicopter, checking everybody’s lines and cords,” Lopez said. “He wasn’t going to put anyone in harm’s way.”

Lopez presented Pingao with the Meritorious Service Medal, the New Mexico Distinguished Service Medal, a U.S. flag, a New Mexico flag, a certificate of appreciation from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a National Guard Bureau Certificate of Service, and a letter of appreciation and challenge coin from Maj. Gen. Kenneth Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico.

Together, Lopez and Pingao presented the Spouse’s Certificate to Pingao’s wife Sandra and Military Child certificates to their children Brandon, Christine, and Stephanie.

Christine, now Staff Sgt. Javier, is carrying on her father’s legacy by serving in the NMARNG. She recently received an Army Achievement Medal for her work on the Incentives Management Team in the NMARNG Education Office.

Members of the 64th CST presented Pingao with a framed unit guidon and a shadow box.

Pingao then gave individual gifts to members of his family, beginning with his mother, before making a short speech.

“I feel so honored. I feel honored and humbled,” Pingao said.

Looking at his friends and family, he said, “This is not about me. This is about you guys.”