A First for the Golden State

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Feb. 2 appointed Air Force Brig. Gen. Mary Kight to be Adjutant General of the California National Guard, the 45th in the state’s history. She becomes the first female to hold this position in California and the nation’s first black female AG. “I am honored to take on this new position … and look forward to using my knowledge and experience to uphold California’s military forces’ outstanding legacy of service,” said Kight. She has been California’s assistant AG since 2006. In her new role, she will lead the nation’s largest National Guard contingent with an authorized strength of 18,000 Army and 4,900 Air Force members. She succeeds Army Maj. Gen. William Wade, who held that position since September 2005. (Sacramento release)