Renea Dorvall Promoted to Brigadier General in Montana Army National Guard
Quietly breaking through barriers as military moves "beyond firsts"
Updated January 8, 2024. The Montana Army National Guard held a promotion ceremony on Saturday morning, January 6th, as Colonel Renea Dorvall was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. The ceremony took place at the Helena Armed Forces Reserve Center at Fort Harrison.
According to Military Times, Dorvall’s is one of 422 military promotions finally confirmed by the Senate on December 5, after a nearly ten month impasse over Defense Department nominations in the Senate caused by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. “The breakthrough came after Tuberville dropped his hold on fast confirmation of the senior military members. He had been protesting the Pentagon’s decision to grant leave time and travel stipends to troops forced to travel across state lines for abortion services because of local laws.”
General Dorvall currently serves as the Commander of the Montana Army National Guard. She joined the Montana Guard in 1987 and received her commission from the Montana Officer Candidate School in 1993. Prior assignments include the Director of Operations and Training for the Montana Army National Guard, Commander of the 1889th Regional Support Group in Butte and the Commander of the 190th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in Billings.
The Montana Army National Guard press release made no reference to the gender first promotion as the service moves “beyond firsts” as it works toward meeting Department of Defense (DOD) goals aiming to exemplify “a diverse organization that allows for women’s meaningful participation across the development, management, and employment of the Joint Force.”
However, it did not go unnoticed, Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester acknowledged in their official statements that General Dorvall is the first woman to be promoted to this rank in this service branch as well as the first woman to serve as its Assistant Adjutant General.
From Senator Daines: “This is a momentous day for Montana and for Colonel Dorvall. Joining the Montana Army National Guard in 1987, Colonel Dorvall has spent decades serving the Treasure State and our nation. She has held numerous roles and broken barriers as the first woman to serve the Montana National Guard as Assistant Adjutant General and now the first woman to be promoted to Brigadier General. Congratulations on this historic achievement and thank you for your service!”
From Senator Tester: “Colonel Dorvall continues to make Montana proud, and our country is safer because of her tireless work throughout the past four decades. I want to thank and congratulate her on this historic achievement, and I know that the Montana National Guard will continue to benefit from her strong leadership.”
I have added a photo roundup of the ceremony. Congratulations, General!