Maj. Gen. Martha Rainville was sworn in Saturday as head of the Vermont National Guard, making her the nation's first female adjutant general.
Rainville, 38, former leader of the Vermont Air Guard, became the 21st adjutant general of Vermont's 4,400-member Guard."It took 360 years of our history to have the first woman adjutant general," said Lt. Gen. Edward D. Baca, chief of the National Guard Bureau in Washington. "I'm sure you all agree with me; it's about time."
Rainville served four years as an Air Force officer at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., from 1979 to 1983, specializing in aircraft maintenance before moving to the Vermont National Guard.
"Today is a special, noteworthy day," she said. "Not so much because I become adjutant general - although that is certainly an unforgettable moment for me. But because this is a beginning."
Rainville was elected to the $70,000-a-year post in a secret ballot by the Legislature. She campaigned for the post, lobbying the Legislature to oust Maj. Gen. Don Edwards, who had held the office for 16 years.
Rainville's campaign charged that Edwards did not delegate enough authority and that he didn't properly address allegations of sexual harassment in the guard.
Gov. Howard Dean said Rainville's election reflects well not only on Vermont but the United States.
"I think you can measure how strong a country is by how well it uses the talents of all its citizens," Dean said.