MINNEAPOLIS, MN. - Air Force Col. Sandra L. Best will be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General during a pinning ceremony, Feb. 25 in Minneapolis. Best is the first woman to achieve the rank of Brigadier General in the Minnesota National Guard.
"I congratulate Colonel Sandra L. Best for her well-deserved promotion to the rank of Brigadier General," said Governor Mark Dayton. "Colonel Best has proven her deep commitment to our state and country through her many years of dedicated service in the Minnesota National Guard. Her accomplishments as a leader in our Armed Forces should be celebrated by all Minnesotans."
Originally from North East Minneapolis, Best joined the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard in 1984, as a Personnel Specialist and progressed through the enlisted ranks to Technical Sergeant. She was commissioned in 1991 through the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee. Best has deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008.
Best received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Resources Management from Metropolitan State University followed by a Masters of Business Administration in Human Resource Management at the University of St. Thomas in 2000. She is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College. She was a Policy Fellow at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. In 2015 she attended the Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Leadership in Homeland Security Program.
"For more than 30 years, Air Colonel Sandra Best has served our country with distinction in a variety of senior leadership roles, including a tour of duty in Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division," said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. "I am confident that as a Brigadier General, she will continue to be a great asset to the Minnesota National Guard and our state."
Brig. Gen. Best will serve as the Chief of Staff, Minnesota Air National Guard, responsible for command supervision, oversight and leadership of the 133rd Airlift Wing and 148th Fighter Wing to include all items pertaining to manning, operations, readiness, training and equipping of units in the Minnesota Air National Guard.
"Col. Best is an extraordinary leader in the Minnesota National Guard, she excels at bringing groups together and communicating the priorities of our organization to our government and community partners," said Minnesota National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Richard C. Nash. "Best's talent and skills make her an incredible asset to not only our organization, but to the community as a whole."
The promotion ceremony will take place Thursday, Feb. 25 at the Woman's Club of Minneapolis.
