The Adjutant General, Nevada
Major General Cynthia N. Kirkland is the Adjutant General for the State of Nevada. As Adjutant General, she is the military Chief of Staff to the Governor and is responsible for both the federal and state missions of the Nevada National Guard. General Kirkland now commands more than 3,000 members of the Nevada Air and Army National Guard, including the Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Airlift Wing and 152nd Intelligence Squadron and the Nevada Army Guard's armor, aviation and signal battalions, a medical detachment, a medium truck company, a heavy equipment maintenance company and the 72nd Military Police Company.
Prior to her current assignment, General Kirkland served as Standing Joint Force Headquarters Chief of Staff. As the Chief of Staff she was the principle management liaison between the National Guard Bureau, Adjutant General and all assigned Nevada National Guard components and units. Directed by the Chief, National Guard Bureau, in 2003, she oversaw and ensured the installation of the Nevada National Guard Joint Force Headquarters structure. She was also responsible for all Air Guard participation in the Determined Promise 2003 exercise that tested the National Guard's ability to respond to a state emergency. General Kirkland was also the co-chairman of the National Guard Association of the United States conference in Las Vegas in 2004 and was responsible for the overall plan and security of the event.
One of the highlights of her early career came when she received a Joint Service Commendation Medal for her work as a Public Affairs Special Assistant while attached to the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Kirkland was the public affairs representative to the joint staff crisis action team and, on a daily basis, would update the joint staff in regard to Operation Allied Force. Another highlight of her career came when she received a Meritorious Service Medal for her work while Commander of the 152nd Communications Flight.
1982 Truckee Meadows Community College, Associate of Arts, Liberal Studies, Reno, Nevada
1992 University of Nevada Reno, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Reno, Nevada
1997 Air Command and Staff College
2000 Air War College
1. November 1986 - September 1987, Executive Support Officer, 192nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Reno, Nevada
2. September 1987 - December 1988, Imagery Intelligence Officer, 192nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Reno, Nevada
3. December 1988 - October 1995, Commander, 152nd Communications Flight, Reno, Nevada
4. October 1995 - October 2000, State Public Affairs Officer, Nevada Air National Guard Headquarters, Carson City, Nevada
5. October 2000 - March 2002, Executive Support Staff Officer, Nevada Air National Guard Headquarters, Carson City, Nevada
6. March 2002 - December 2002, Deputy Commander, Nevada Air National Guard Headquarters, Carson City, Nevada
7. December 2002 - November 2003, Chief of Staff, Nevada Air National Guard Headquarters, Carson City, Nevada
8. November 2003 - June 2005, Chief, Standing Joint Force Headquarters, Carson City, Nevada
9. June 2005 - Present , The Adjutant General, Nevada, Joint Force Headquarters, Carson City, Nevada
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Organizational Unit Award (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Navy Good Conduct Medal
Air Force Reserve Meritorious Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass, 'M' Device, and Numeral 2)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Air Force Training Ribbon
Major General Drennan A. Clark Order of Nevada
Nevada distinguished Service Medal
Nevada Medal of Merit (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Nevada Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Nevada Emergency/Humanitarian Service Ribbon (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Nevada Governor's Outstanding Unit Award (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Command Ribbon
Nevada Meritorious Service Ribbon
Nevada Service Ribbon (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Second Lieutenant 6 November 1986
First Lieutenant 24 January 1989
Captain 1 March 1991
Major 1 March 1995
Lieutenant Colonel 1 March 1999
Colonel 30 January 2003
Brigadier General 11 June 2005
Major General 28 June 2007
(Current as of September 2008)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.