Photo By 1st Sgt. Daryl Madrid | Phoenix -- Maj. Gen. Muehlenbeck interviews with ABC15 news after her promotion this...... read more read more
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PHOENIX ---The Adjutant General of the Arizona National Guard was promoted from Brig. Gen. to Maj. Gen. in a ceremony held at 11:00 a.m. on June 6, at Papago Park Military Reservation in Phoenix.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Kerry L. Muehlenbeck pinned on her second star in front of her family, friends, Gov. Doug Ducey and other distinguished guests in the main hall of the Allen Readiness Center here.
Ducey took note of all of the support the Arizona Guard has put forward for the state, from supporting tribal nations and rural communities in the effort to mitigate COVID-19, distributing vaccines to all corners of the state, helping law enforcement during a period of civil unrest and assisting law enforcement officials in Arizona's border communities to keep the state safe.
“These are no small feats, they take dedication, they take courage and they take leadership. She's [Muehlenbeck] been strong and she's been steady since becoming Arizona's Adjutant General, she's held her head high in the face of adversity. That is a sign of a true leader,” said Ducey. “She will be the first female Adjutant General in state history. This is true and it is historic, but it doesn't begin to scratch the surface of General Muehlenbecks background. General Muehlenbeck said during her announcement that she's never thought of herself as a female member of the military, she's just a member of the military, it's true. She's not a female brigadier general, shes a brigadier general, and today she is not a female major general, she becomes a major general.
Muehlenbeck reflected on her experience with the Arizona Guard and that she feels the promotion ceremony is not just about her, but everyone around her.
“Rarely if ever are these promotions ceremonies ever about one individual, I know my name is on the program and I know that there has been a lot of Kerry Muehlenbecks tossed around up here, but I think as much as they're about me, they really become about who is attending and they become about tradition. It's your dedication, it's your hard service, it's your technical knowledge and experience and your mentoring of me. This ceremony is about you all and I feel like I'm celebrating all of you today.” said Muehlenbeck.
She took note of how she has tried to just observe what is happening since her return to the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.
“When I look out across the formation I see service members and I see service that is absolutely inspiring. This is an agency where nobody, and I mean nobody, has a monopoly on hard work,” said Muehlenbeck. “There is no way anyone could have predicted what happened these last couple of years, and frankly I don't think it matters. I don't think the Guard has to predict, because when you look at our performance the Guard is ready and the Guard is there.”
Under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Muehlenbeck the Soldiers and Airmen of the Arizona National Guard will continue to meet all challenges that arise within the state of Arizona while also remaining ready to stand with their active-duty counterparts to defeat all enemies on the battlefield.
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2021 19:14 |
| Story ID: | 398244 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 426 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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