WALT BLACKMAN COMMITTEES:
1700 WEST WASHINGTON, SUITE H
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85007-2844
CAPITOL PHONE: (602) 926- 3244
TOLL FREE: 1-800-352-8404
wblackman@azleg.gov

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DISTRICT 7

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 23, 2025

In Honor of Major General Kerry L. Muehlenbeck
Commanding General, Arizona National Guard
Director, Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs

With unwavering respect and profound gratitude, we honor Major General Kerry L. Muehlenbeck on her retirement after more than three decades of distinguished and principled service to the State of Arizona and the United States of America.  Chairman Appointed by Governor Doug Ducey, Major General Muehlenbeck made history as the first woman to command the Arizona National Guard. As Adjutant General of Arizona, she led with unwavering clarity, courage, and vision, guiding over 8,000 soldiers, airmen, and emergency professionals through some of the most demanding missions in recent memory.

Under her command, the Arizona National Guard became a more lethal, agile, and mission-ready force-capable of responding swiftly to national crises and defending Arizona’s border with strength and resolve. Her leadership was transformational and enduring from pandemic response and wildfire suppression to homeland defense and multi-agency coordination.

Commissioned in 1993, General Muehlenbeck rose as a formidable Judge Advocate General, ultimately becoming a national voice for innovation in military governance. Her intellectual rigor, demonstrated by her Ph.D. in Justice Studies, complemented her operational strength, fostering a
culture of principled leadership across the force.

Her influence extended well beyond the military. General Muehlenbeck currently serves as department chair of the Administration of Justice Studies Department at Mesa Community College and has taught at Arizona State University, American Military University, and Embry­ Riddle Aeronautical University. Her commitment to education and mentorship has shaped countless future leaders in both
military and civilian spheres.

Before transitioning to academia, she built a formidable legal foundation as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (1993-1997), an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Saginaw County, Michigan (1992-1993), and later as a Deputy County Attorney at the Pima County Attorney’s Office (1998-2001). These roles forged her reputation as a legal warrior and principled
public servant long before she assumed command.

Her service has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air and Space Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Service Star, and the Arizona Exceptionally Long Service Medal, among others. These honors reflect her unwavering commitment, operational brilliance, and the deep trust she earned from all echelons of leadership.

Major General Muehlenbeck leaves behind a Guard that is stronger, more resilient, and better prepared to meet future threats. Her legacy will endure in every institution she fortified, every life she mentored, and every mission made possible through her leadership.

She brings lasting credit to herself, the United States Air Force, and the great State of Arizona. Her name will be remembered with honor, and her legacy will inspire generations to come.