Chief Among Them
/
photo by shane darby
In his 30th year of service, Heath Lotz recently obtained the ultra-rare rank of chief warrant officer 5
By Greer Veon
Heath Lotz, a native of Texarkana and graduate of Arkansas High School, enlisted in the Army in 1996. Thirty years later, he has achieved the rank of chief warrant officer 5—the highest warrant officer rank, held by fewer than .003% of active-duty service members; CW5s are jokingly known as “unicorns” among service members.
In April, Heath was promoted to chief warrant officer 5 (CW5). His promotion ceremony was held in Fort Lee, Virginia. CW5 is the highest warrant officer rank in the United States Army. submitted photo.
Warrant officers are specialists. The US Army website describes the warrant officer as “the adaptive technical expert, combat leader, trainer, and advisor . . . [T]he warrant officer administers, manages, maintains, operates and integrates systems and equipment.” A CW5 is a professional whose expertise is sought out when the answer is not in the manual or when the manual is wrong. As per the US Army website, CW5s are “master-level technical and tactical experts. The role requires unique operational experience, top-tier leadership qualities and the ability to provide sage counsel.”
“I have been so fortunate to have a really supportive family: my parents, our parents, and the people in Texarkana have always supported us all the times I have been gone.”
Heath—formally addressed as CW5 Lotz—specializes in maintenance. As he explained, in order to become a maintenance warrant officer, an enlisted soldier must meet certain criteria, submit an application, and complete Warrant Officer Candidate School. “A CW4 I worked for encouraged me to submit an application, which resulted in my appointment as a warrant officer in 2008,” he said.
Over the following 18 years, he rose through the ranks and was named a chief warrant officer 5 in April 2026. Over time, he completed his bachelor of science in organizational leadership from the University of Charleston and last year graduated from the University of Arkansas with a master’s in operations management.
Left to right: 1. Heath was deployed to Liberia in 2014 as part of Operation United Assistance, a response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa. 2. Heath received his master’s degree from the University of Arkansas in 2024. 3. Sgt. Tanner Lotz, Heath’s son, and friend Chad Trenary, a retired chief warrant officer 5, pinned Heath at his promotion ceremony. submitted photos
Heath’s deployments include tours in South Korea, Romania, Liberia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He has received many medals and awards, including a Bronze Star Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.
Heath said that some of the most rewarding moments of his career so far have also been some of the most challenging. Among these was his tour in Liberia during the Ebola outbreak in 2014. “I was part of an engineer battalion from Fort Hood who were responsible for building the Ebola treatment units in cooperation with the World Health Organization and other agencies. The mission was much different than my previous deployments. It was also eye opening and rewarding,” he said.
Heath’s wife, Tiffany, is also from Texarkana; the couple began dating while attending Arkansas High School. Traveling with the Army has allowed them exposure to so many places outside of the four states area. “Due to the Army being a melting pot, we have experienced many diverse people and cultures,” he said. “Aside from travel, one of our most appreciated perks of the Army has been the opportunity to learn about different ways people live across the United States and the world.”
Heath and his wife, Tiffany, attended a military ball held in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2020. submitted photo
When reflecting on navigating the challenges in his career, Heath noted that it takes a village of support. “Soldiers spend a lot of time away from home,” he said. “I have been so fortunate to have a strong support group that includes family, friends, and many people from our hometown,” he said. “Over the years, my family and I have been on many church prayer lists across Texarkana, and we do not take them for granted.”
Tanner Lotz, Heath’s son, currently serves in the Army as a Black Hawk helicopter mechanic. submitted photo
Heath has served in different capacities. His first warrant officer assignments were at the tactical level, with back-to-back deployments to Afghanistan. Most recently, he completed a three-year assignment at Fort Lee, Virginia, teaching strategic maintenance in the Ordnance Warrant Officer Senior Course. At the time of publication, he is being relocated to Hawaii.
When asked what inspires him to keep moving forward in his career, Heath said that it is an honor to serve. “I truly enjoy the Army lifestyle,” he said. “As challenging as it can be at times, the pros outweigh the cons.” Heath feels especially paternal toward younger soldiers given that his own son, Tanner, currently serves in the Army as a Black Hawk helicopter mechanic. “I feel extremely fortunate to serve at the same time as him,” Heath said.