General Kight to speak at Women's History Month luncheon

  • Published
  • By 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif. --  The first-ever woman to command the California National Guard is scheduled as the guest speaker at the Women's History Month luncheon here March 30 at the Delta Breeze Club.

Brig. Gen. Mary J. Kight was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Feb. 2 as the state's 45 adjutant general, directing the state's military department and leading the largest, most-tasked National Guard force in the United States. The California Guard has more than 18,000 Army and nearly 5,000 Air National Guard members.

The general's career with the California ANG spans nearly 25 years and she is the first female adjutant general of the California Guard as well as the first African-American woman to hold that position in the nation.

General Kight was commissioned in the Air Force in 1974 and began her career as a personnel officer at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. Her last active-duty assignment was with the former Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. However, the desire to continue military service prompted the general to join the Nebraska ANG in 1981.

General Kight returned to her home state of California in 1984 and joined the California ANG. From then until 1994, she served in various maintenance officer positions. Later, she became the first commander of the 144th Fighter Wing Mission Support Group with the Fresno ANG and commander of the Detachment 201st Mission Support Squadron.

In November 2004, General Kight became assistant adjutant general, air, California ANG in Sacramento. Two years later, she was selected assistant adjutant general for the entire California ANG.

General Kight graduated from Air University with a master's degree in strategic studies. She also earned a master's degree in human resources management from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. and a bachelor's degree in social welfare from California State University, in Chico.

Her military awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, with bronze oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leave clusters.

General Kight's full biography is available at http://www.calguard.ca.gov/otag/Pages/BG_Kight.aspx

The theme for Women's History Month is "Writing Women Back into History." The luncheon begins at 11 a.m. For tickets, contact Tech. Sgt. Nicole Smith at 424-4317.