VDF recognizes top noncommissioned officers
FORT PICKETT, Va — Sgt. 1st Class (Va.) Glenn Hargett was recognized as the State Guard Association of the United States Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and Staff Sgt. (Va.) Zachariah Ingalls was recognized as the Virginia Defense Force Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Oct. 19, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams, commander of the Virginia Defense Force, congratulated both NCOs during the VDF’s Multi-Unit Training Assembly.
“Both of these leaders exemplify serving others before self, and I thank them both for their service to the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Diddams said. “They set an outstanding example for others to follow.”
SGAUS formally presented the award to Hargett in early November at the organization’s 40th Annual Conference in Tampa, Florida.
Both Hargett and Ingalls are part of the VDF’s 11th Civil Support Battalion, 1st Regiment. Hargett serves as first sergeant for Delta Company and Ingalls serves as acting first sergeant for Bravo Company.
Hargett said it is truly an honor to represent Virginia and the VDF as SGAUS 2026 NCO of the Year.
“I have been very fortunate throughout my entire military career to have been trained and mentored by, and served under, some of the most highly-trained and elite officers and NCOs,” he said. “All those leaders instilled in me to give the same focus and attention to detail to those entrusted to me to lead and train.”
Hargett brings more than 16 years of combined military service across the Regular Army, the Army Reserve, the National Guard and the VDF. He is a former member of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard, and has supported missions ranging from airborne and infantry operations to high-profile Presidential ceremonies.
He also has over two decades of experience in emergency management, fire, emergency medical services, rescue and technical public safety. In his civilian career, he is an operations supervisor for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.
Hargett has completed extensive professional military education, including all 14 of SGAUS’ PME courses, notably the Sergeant Majors Course and War College Phases I–III, and is a member of SGAUS’ Military Emergency Management Specialist Academy. He has certifications in Community Emergency Response Team and Search and Rescue. His federal military qualifications include Air Assault, Parachutist, Expert Infantry and Combat Infantryman.
Ingalls enlisted in the VDF in February 2016 as a private with no prior military experience, and he was promoted to staff sergeant in March 2025. Mentored by previous NCO of the Year Award recipients Staff Sgt. Michael Felton and First Sgt. Chris Frederick, he has served as acting first sergeant of Bravo Company since January 2025. He said he sought to embody the NCO Creed through commitment to personnel welfare, mission success and unit development.
“I am deeply honored by this award,” Ingalls said. “It reflects the dedication of Bravo Company, who as volunteers have taken extra steps to self-improve and contribute to our mission. I give my heartfelt thanks to them, my wife Paola, and my team and leadership at my employer RBC WM, for their unwavering support.”
Since January, Ingalls has raised Bravo Company’s drill attendance from 50 percent to 100 percent by fostering engagement, retention and integration of new members. He also supported recruiting efforts at the Leesburg Air Show in September.
He led operations during Winter Storm Cora and the White Star exercise, authored after-action reviews and received a commendation letter in February from Governor Glenn Youngkin for state active duty contributions, including two winter storm missions.
SSG Ingalls earned the Master Military Emergency Management Specialist designation in February 2025. He has promoted professional military education by authoring the First Sergeants Guide and Enlisted Soldiers Blue Book, drafting a SGAUS memorandum on engagement strategies, beta-testing the Advanced Leader Course, creating readiness sheets, teaching Initial Entry Training and developing the Tactical Financial Readiness Course.