Kirkland, Cynthia

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. In Sept. 2008, Kirkland was elected NGAUS vice chair (Air) at the 130th General Conference in Baltimore.