As James Brown – and later, via American Idol, Joshua Ledet – noted, it may be a man’s world. But, with all apologies to grammarians everywhere, it wouldn’t be nothing without a woman or a girl.
Who knew the New Hampshire National Guard was so in tune with the Godfather of Soul?
When Pembroke native Diane Baxter was recently promoted to the role of Command Chief Warrant Officer for the New Hampshire National Guard, she joined rather select company. Actually, it’s just her. She is the first woman to ever hold the position in the state, and is one of only a handful in the country, adding another highlight to a decorated career that began in New Hampshire more than 33 years ago.
Of course to Baxter, it’s no big thing. Just another day at the male-dominated office she’s been conquering for more than three decades.
“Everybody makes such a big thing about it, but I’ve always kind of tried to keep it low key, because to me I got here because of my skills, not to fill a gender role,” Baxter said. “But when I think about it, it is kind of cool. It’s an accomplishment.”
Baxter’s right – she’s not where she is because she’s a woman. She just happens to be a woman who has earned her way there. And somewhere there’s a National Guard recruiter who is probably still wiping his brow from the effort it took to rope Baxter in.
She had never given the Guard a second thought until her ex-husband started talking her into joining, and the initial pitch wasn’t enough to sway her.
“I never, ever thought of joining,” Baxter said. “My ex-husband talked me into it. It took five months for the recruiter to convince me, and 33 years later, I’m still here.”
Actually, she’s here again. Her promotion brought her back from Virginia, where she’d spent the last 8 1∕2 years at the National Guard Bureau. She had an opportunity to be considered for the promotion in both Virginia and New Hampshire, but removed her name from the Virginia opportunity in hopes of securing the spot on home turf. So when she got word the previous command chief was retiring and she was next in line, it was reason to celebrate indeed.
“My daughters and my grandkids are here, so it’s a positive thing to be back home,” Baxter said. “I removed my name from the list (in Virginia) because I was hoping to get the job here. It does mean a lot more to get it here, to have all my family and friends here.”
She had most of those family members and friends there when she was officially promoted at an Aug. 4 ceremony, too. A handful of siblings and other relatives were on hand, and her father was there to “pin her” with her new rank, an emotional moment for Baxter given the arc of her military career.
“My whole family had never seen me recognized in my job in 33 years,” Baxter said. “My dad was there for my first pin, and he was there for my last one.”
It is indeed her last, as Baxter has climbed “as high as I can go,” she said. Her position as command chief warrant officer comes with a three-year commitment, although she’s eligible for retirement next year. But she plans on seeing the commitment out and waiting to make any decisions about the future until the time comes.
“My orders are for three years, and that’s what I agreed to,” Baxter said. “I am going to do what I can, and provided my senior leadership is still happy, (we’ll go from there).”
In the meantime, it’s nice to be home, which New Hampshire has been both personally and professionally – Baxter spent more than 20 years in the Guard in New Hampshire before her journey to Virginia. And when she was there, working near the Pentagon on national and international matters, she made it a point to visit once a month when possible and every six weeks at the most.
“US Air and I became good friends,” Baxter said.
Baxter has looked at each stop in her career as an opportunity, though, even when it took her away from home. She entered the Guard as a medic before taking a full-time position six months in that forever changed her path. So having the opportunity to spend time at the Pentagon isn’t something she took lightly.
“It sound sappy, but I don’t have any negative memories. I’m fortunate. I’ve been real lucky, to have the state let me (take the position in Virginia) – a small-town girl from New Hampshire doesn’t get to do that.”
That retirement is looming doesn’t bother Baxter, either. She has seen fresh generations of Guardsmen come up the ranks and is excited to leave things in their hands.
“There are new generals coming in, new blood coming in,” Baxter said. “It’s okay for me to drive the train for awhile, but there comes a point where you need to step aside and let someone else take the reins.”
For now, she’s simply getting settled in her new position and looking forward to the next three years. Even if she still catches herself glancing down at the rank represented on her uniform.
“I get caught looking down and thinking, wow, it happened,” she said. “It really is an honor, whether you are male or female.”
And for the women out there looking to Baxter as a role model? Humble though she is, she does have a few words of wisdom – and she’s not entirely sure that James Brown was telling the whole truth.
“It’s not totally a man’s world. And even if it is, you can break in anyway,” Baxter said.
