It's A Girl!

Oklahoma made history recently by electing the first female governor ever. Although she has not been sworn in yet, I think Oklahomans have gotten their mind around it now. On top of having a lady governor, one of the first cabinet appointments Governor Fallin made just happened to be a little fireball by the name of Major General Rita Aragon. I first came in contact with “General Rita” as I call her, a little over a year ago. I was privileged to be the auctioneer for the Red Cross Gala in Oklahoma City which was a quite a doin’ with lots of heavy hitters in the crowd. I shared the stage with a lady that had an energy level that was unbelievable. General Rita replaces an old friend to veterans since 1995, my good friend, Norman Lamb who served in that capacity under Governors Keating and Henry and was himself, no slouch when it came to fighting for the needs of veterans across the state. I can honestly say that Rita Aragon will fill those shoes quite nicely.

General Rita’s service to our country has been outstanding as she served from 1979-2006 in the United States Air Force. Rita earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Central State College in Edmond in 1970. She also received her Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling from there in 1979. She enlisted in the Oklahoma Air National Guard in 1979 as an Airman Basic in the 219th Engineering Squadron stationed in Oklahoma City. She received her commission through the Academy of Military Science at Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1981. She returned to the 219th EIS as an administrative officer. In 1989, then Captain Aragon became the first female commander in the history of the Oklahoma Air National Guard when she assumed command of the 137th Air Refueling Wing at Will Rogers World Airport Air National Guard Base. She became the first female to hold the rank of Brigadier General in the history of the United States Air National Guard as the commander and Assistant Adjutant General for the Oklahoma Air National Guard in March 2003. As Assistant Adjutant General for Air, General Aragon reported directly to the Adjutant General of Oklahoma. While serving as Assistant Adjutant General, General Aragon was appointed to serve as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller. She served in that position from 2003 to 2005. In 2006, General Aragon was appointed Air National Guard Assistant to the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff Manpower and Personnel. In that position, General Aragon oversaw policies and plans covering all parts of the Air Force's military and civilian personnel management.

I would dare say that no one would cross her, or at least no one in their right mind. Whatever she lacks in size, she makes up for in vim and vinegar. She is a take charge kind of gal and I can tell you from my experience with her that when she talks, people listen. She can hold her own with any man and I promise you, veterans will be in good shape with her in the governor’s cabinet. She is no nonsense and commands respect from everyone she comes in contact with. I have been very involved with veteran’s affairs having served for several years on the Veteran’s Committee in the House and over the last six months, my dad, who was a Korean War Veteran, spent his last months in the Lawton Vets Center. I was on the grounds of that first-rate building on a daily basis and know a great deal about that state-of-the-art facility. I can hardly wait to bring General Rita down to Lawton to show her around. I have already extended my congratulations to General Rita privately. I want to take this time to publicly say congratulations to her for being appointed Secretary for Veterans Affairs in Governor Fallin’s new cabinet. Yep, that’s right. It’s a girl. But she can hold her own and veterans across our state will be well represented.

If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.

And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:

“Leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders.” ~Tom Peters