During a special ceremony at Nashville’s Joint Force Headquarters on August 2, Naudia Cartmell assumed command of the Tennessee Air National Guard’s newest unit, the Tennessee Recruiting and Retention Squadron.
The ceremony, which was presided over by Brig. Gen. M. Lee Hartley, Tennessee’s ‘assistant adjutant general – air,’ established the new unit, appointed Cartmell as commander, and promoted her from major to lieutenant colonel.
“It’s a proud day for Tennessee as we establish our Recruiting and Retention Squadron here in Nashville and promote one of our most talented officers to lead it,” said Hartley. “She is the right person at the right time to undertake such a challenge, and I look forward to seeing what she can do.”
The new unit is the first recruiting squadron Tennessee has ever had and is a part of an initiative from the Air National Guard to establish a national recruiting command with subordinate squadrons throughout the various states. The restructuring is in response to the changing recruiting environment and will make it easier for the Air National Guard to adjust to recruiting changes and better serve the organization.
“Tennessee was one of the first states to embrace the changes and establish the new unit, and we know it will be a success,” said Hartley.
The 24-person squadron is headquartered at Nashville’s Joint Force Headquarters and has operating locations at Chattanooga’s 241st Engineering Installation Squadron, Knoxville’s 134th Air Refueling Wing, Memphis’ 164th Airlift Wing, and Nashville’s 118th Wing.
The ceremony began with Cartmell’s promotion to lieutenant colonel, administered by Hartley with the order read by Col. Jay Jackson, ‘director of staff’ for the Tennessee Air National Guard. Her new rank was pinned on by her husband, Reginald Jr., her sons Iven, Reginald III, and Elijah, and her best friend Latisha.
“I am honored and humbled by this opportunity,” said Cartmell. “I would not be here if it was not for the dedication, sacrifice, and commitment of all my family, friends, and airmen who have stood by me throughout my career.”
Next, Col. Ted Geasley, commander of Nashville’s 118th Wing, administered her oath of office, followed by her appointment to command.
“Naudia is an exceptionally talented officer and the right person for this command,” said Hartley. “Throughout her 21-year career, she always sought the hard jobs and cultivated an exceptional career that focused on leadership, command, and how to expertly manage personnel, which is what her new assignment will continue to demand from her.”
Prior to this assignment, Cartmell served as the Tennessee Air National Guard’s director of ‘manpower and personnel’ where she oversaw the management of more than 3,000 Air National guardsmen across the state. She also had a diverse career, initially enlisting in the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 118th Medical Group in 2004.
“Joining the Air National Guard was one of the best decisions I ever made,” said Cartmell. “I love the organization and supporting my fellow airmen whom I call my ‘guard family.’”
For the next 20 years, she served in numerous command and staff assignments to include being a ‘human resource specialist’ in Nashville, a ‘satellite command and control officer’ for Knoxville’s 119th Command and Control Squadron, a ‘supervisory human resource specialist’ in Nashville, a ‘flight commander and director of operations’ at Nashville’s 118th Force Support Squadron, and as the ‘wing executive officer’ for Nashville’s 118th Wing.
Cartmell is originally from Nashville and attended high school at the Nashville School of the Arts, earned a bachelor’s degree in health science from Tennessee State University, and earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University.
