First black woman to lead any state’s National Guard takes charge in California

CA National Guard gets first black, female leader

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The first black woman to head the National Guard in any state has taken charge in California.

Brigadier General Mary Kight (kite) was sworn in Tuesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at a former Air Force base outside Sacramento.

She is also the first woman to lead the 21,000 members of the state’s Army and Air National Guard.

Schwarzenegger called the 59-year-old Kight a pioneer for breaking gender and racial barriers. She has spent nearly 25 years with the California guard after seven years in the Air Force.

She assumes command from General William Wade, who is leaving to help command a North Atlantic Treaty Organization force in Italy.