[R]etired Maj. Gen. Martha Rainville, the nation’s first female Adjutant General who ran the Vermont National Guard from 1997 to 2006, has endorsed Col. Greg Knight to be the state’s next Adjutant General.
In a letter to be distributed to state lawmakers later today, Rainville writes that Knight has “earned my enthusiastic endorsement in the upcoming legislative election.” Vermont is currently the only state where the Legislature selects the head of the state militia. (In every other state, it is a gubernatorial appointment, which Gov. Phil Scott and some lawmakers favor.)
“In my judgement, [Knight] has the unique leadership qualities necessary to create a culture of inclusiveness, honor and respect in both the Vermont Air National Guard and the Vermont Army National Guard – at a moment when the Green Mountain Boys most need these qualities
reinforced,” Rainville wrote. “He is a natural leader, widely respected by the women and men of the Vermont Guard.”
Col. Knight currently serves as the Recruiting and Retention Commander inside the Vermont Army National Guard, though he also served as an officer in the Vermont Air Guard. The Vermont National Guard is comprised of those two units.
The other top candidate, Retired Brig. Gen. David Baczewski, served in various roles in the Vermont Air National Guard, including Wing Commander, the de-facto leader on base.
A third candidate, Retired Lt. Col. David Graham, served in the Vermont National Guard for 13 years in a variety of positions.
A joint session of the House and Senate is scheduled to select the next adjutant general on Feb. 21. The current leader, Maj. Gen. Steven Cray, is not seeking another two-year term after being elected in 2013.
Lawmakers have begun meeting with the three announced candidates for Adjutant General. Col. Knight is the only active member of the Guard. He had to obtain a waiver from the Secretary of the Army in order to run for public office. The waiver has restricted Knight from giving press interviews. Retired Col. Dan Pipes, Knight’s de-facto campaign manager, declined an interview on behalf of his boss.
Many lawmakers have yet to meet with all of the candidate, and no real frontrunner in the race has emerged. Rainville’s letter could tip the race towards Knight, however, as she enjoys deep popularity inside the Guard and under the Golden Dome.
In December, Rainville spoke with VTDigger in response to a seven-part series, “The Flying Fraternity “revealing sexual misconduct and other abuses of power.
In an interview Monday night, Rainville said the series in part prompted her to give an endorsement in the race.
“Based on what VTDigger has made public as well as the information I’ve heard from friends, I thought it was important to throw my support behind someone who can put the Guard back on track,” Rainville said Monday. “Greg fits that description more anyone I else in the running.”
Rainville said at the time that the reporting should spur the governor and state
lawmakers to more aggressively embrace their oversight responsibilities over Guard matters.
“While this is difficult for the Guard, I also think this is an opportunity to encourage the
governor as commander in chief and the legislators who have a critical oversight role to engage with the Guard to understand and really own their civilian oversight,” Rainville said. “It may be that the Legislature is where further hearings and further fact-finding could occur.”
State lawmakers have pledged to conduct oversight hearings and plan to have a public forum with all of the announced Adjutant General candidates in early February.
Sen. Jeanette White, D-Windham, is drafting legislation that would bring the selection process of the Adjutant General in line with the nomination of judicial candidates. Under these rules, a judicial nominating board would vet a series of candidates who would then be presented to the governor for a final decision. While some lawmakers believe this will depoliticize and professionalize the process, Rainville expressed support in the current vetting process.
“This is a unique way that we select an adjutant general, and I think there’s a lot of value to this method,” she said. “Even though legislators may feel unprepared, I would argue they are the representatives of the people, many of whom are guard men and women and military families. They can give voice to the concerns, hopes and visions of their guard members. I would encourage guard members to reach out to their local lawmakers about this upcoming race.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported Lt. Col David Graham had not served in the Vermont National Guard.
