Woman Heads CA National Guard
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Kight, 59, who has been with the Guard for a quarter-century. 16,600 Army National Guard and 4,800 Air National Guard members will now be under the command of Adjutant General Kight.
The California State University-Chico graduate has been assistant adjutant general since 2006, and she spent seven years in the Air Force previously.
Kight, a Republican, replaces General William Wade II, who will become a deputy chief of staff with a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) force in Naples, Italy.
"Brigadier General Mary Kight is a proven courageous, loyal and honorable leader. She has a long and distinguished history of service to our state and nation and I am proud to have her as the first female adjutant general of our military forces here in California," said Governor Schwarzenegger.
"I am confident that with General Kight’s leadership, the California National Guard will continue to be fully prepared, standing ready and able to assist our local communities and our country when called upon in times of emergency."
A Sacramento resident and Monterey native, Kight will now receive $180,201 a year for her new post. She is very honored and excited.
"I whole-heartedly share in the Governor’s commitment to public safety and ensuring that our armed forces are well-trained and equipped to provide support and assistance here in California and abroad at a moment’s notice," said General Kight.
"I am honored to take on this new position serving the California National Guard as adjutant general and I look forward to using my knowledge and experience to uphold California’s military forces’ outstanding legacy of service."
Kight is the first African-American woman at the helm of any national guard in the United States of America. February is Black History Month, and Mary J. Knight is certainly making history all the way around.
Congratulations, General Kight!
