MADISON, Wis.---A Wisconsin woman made history Monday morning as she became the first female general in the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
Former Wisconsin Army National Guard Col. Joane Mathews was promoted to brigadier general at a ceremony in the senate chambers during a special pinning ceremony.
Col. Mathews not only became the first woman Army National Guard Brigadier General in the state, her promotion is also a milestone for Native American women. Col. Mathews' heritage comes from the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
“We are proud of Col. Mathews and congratulate her on her many accomplishments. She is an excellent role model for Native Americans. We wish her much success in all of her endeavors,” said Mike Allen, Executive Director.
Mathews said, "I have several family members who have served well before me, and I am especially proud to carry on the legacy of military services my father had started. I am also sad that he can't be here to see me pin on this rank, as he had been to almost every other promotion in my career."
She said, "I am hopeful to be a positive role model for other female service members."
She was also the Wisconsin Army National Guard's first female Army chief of staff, the first female brigade commander, the first female commander of the 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment and the state's first non-medical female colonel.
Col Mathews lives in Sun Prairie with her husband and two daughters. She is employed full-time as the Director of Human Resources for the Department of Military Affairs.
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MADISON, Wis.--- A Wisconsin woman is about to make history as the first woman in the state to be promoted to Brigadier General in the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
Joni Mathews has almost 30 years of military experience.
"I was active duty for 11 years, then I joined the National Guard in 1997." said Col. Mathews. "It's been the best decision of my military career to join the National Guard."
Col. Mathews' extensive military career began at Fort Rucker where she flew helicopters and was an aviation instructor. She then served in Germany for more than a decade before returning home to the US and working in Chicago.
"The commander of the 147 at the time in Wisconsin recruited me to come to the National Guard."
Col. Mathews will not only be the first woman Army National Guard Brigadier General in the state, her promotion is also a milestone for Native American women. Col. Mathews' heritage comes from the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
"It's inspirational, but I think more inspirational is not only this upcoming promotion to Brigadier General or her assignment to Human Resources Director, but it's about knowing where she came from, and that despite the success, she's a person first, and a mother and a wife, and those are the things we're the most excited about. The rest are just outcomes of hard work." said Tom Sandine, who works alongside Mathews.
"I think growing up on a reservation has given me the culture and the strength to do what I am able to do." said Col. Mathews.
She says she draws inspiration from her husband and her two daughters.
"What also got me here are the women veterans that served in World War I and World War II years ago that helped pave the way for women veterans and women in the military." said Col. Mathews.
"Col. Mathews is an example of the outstanding caliber of men and women we have here in the state working and serving as Wisconsin Guard" said Major Paul Rickert, state public affairs officer for Wisconsin National Guard.
"I think if you do the best job that you can, you can attain any goal, any challenge that you put in front of you," said Col. Mathews" And if you love what you do especially, you're gonna attain those goals."
Colonel Mathews will officially be promoted to Brigadier General at 8:30 Monday morning in the senate chambers during a special pinning ceremony,
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