![Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, left, and Maj. Gen. Richard Nash of the Minnesota National Guard each pinned a general's star on the shoulders of Col. Sandy Best at the promotion ceremony where she became Brigadier General Best Thursday afternoon. ] JEFF WHEELER ï jeff.wheeler@startribune.com Col. Sandy Best became the first female general in Minnesota National Guard history she was promoted to brigadier general in a formal promotion ceremony Thursday afternoon, February 25, 2016 at The Woman's](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/DFJUCDYOQ5YUHC7I2NKKPZPL4Q.jpg?&w=1080)
Sandy Best, who was officially promoted Thursday to become the first female general in the Minnesota National Guard, is not uncomfortable with being the "first." She just doesn't expect to be the "only" for very long.
In starting her new position, Best is keenly aware of her pioneering role in a military that is rapidly changing to reflect the civilian population it serves.
"I will look forward to the day that it doesn't have to be the 'first female,' when it's just commonplace," she said. "In the meantime, I will pay forward what the men and women in the organization have done to help me get here; to help continue to empower men and women in the organization to do what they want to do."
In a ceremony at the Women's Club of Minneapolis, Major Gen. Rick Nash, the head of the Minnesota National Guard, made note of the strides the Guard has made in developing a more diverse organization, including recent promotions of its first African-American general officer, its first African-American female and male colonels; the first female senior enlisted adviser; the first female chief information officer, the first female Army brigade commander, and the first female Judge Advocate General general counsel.
Since 2011, the Minnesota National Guard has increased the number of women in its ranks from 16.2 percent to 18 percent.
"This increase reflects the importance of promoting great, talented, and qualified female candidates such as General Best," Nash said.
Best said a military functions best when it includes a wide range of people.
"Who would want to join an organization that doesn't look like them or reflect their values?" she asked. "Really, its bigger than just diversity in race and color and ethnicity and gender. It's more about inclusivity in an organization because that's the kind of stuff we need when we go into combat; when we support state homeland missions. You need people who can work together and get along."
