Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker promoted Col. Joane Mathews to brigadier general this week, making her the first female general in the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
Mathews is a member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. She grew up in Minocqua, Wisconsin and went on to get a degree in aviation administration from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Mathews followed the footsteps of her father who also served in the military. Now, Mathews said, she’s excited to see more women follow her lead.
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“The Department of Defense opened up all combat positions to females so I see more and more females getting into different occupations,” she said. “I don’t think its gone totally that far in Wisconsin yet we’re getting there. We’re taking baby steps, which is smart. You dont want to put a private in an all male unit without any more senior ranking female mentors.”
Mathews was also the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s first female Army chief of staff, first female brigade commander and first non-meidcal female colonel.
Next month marks her 30th year in military service.
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