[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 30 (Thursday, February 25, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING SANDY BEST

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. JOHN KLINE

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 25, 2016

  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a historic promotion in 
the Minnesota National Guard. Today, the Minnesota Guard will conduct a 
promotion ceremony for Colonel Sandy Best, who will become the first 
female general in Minnesota National Guard history when she is promoted 
to Brigadier General.
  General Best will be the Air Chief of Staff responsible for command 
supervision, oversight, and leadership of the 133rd Airlift Wing at the 
Minneapolis-St. Paul Joint Air Reserve Station, and the 148th Fighter 
Wing in Duluth.
  Mr. Speaker, General Best began her career more than 30 years ago 
when she, a Minneapolis Edison High School graduate, enlisted in the 
Minnesota Air National Guard in 1984 as a Personnel Specialist. In 
1991, she was commissioned through the Academy of Military Science at 
McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Tennessee, contributing to the 
Minnesota Guard in a variety of positions ever since.
  General Best's passion for our soldiers, their families, and our 
country as well as her advocacy for the National Guard has been 
exceptional. I have always appreciated our meetings in Minnesota and in 
Washington and I look forward to working with the new Brigadier 
General.
  Mr. Speaker, this promotion is well deserved and I wish General Best 
my best, and congratulate her and the Minnesota National Guard on this 
historic achievement.

                          ____________________