Major General Gigi Wilz (’89)’s journey from Dickinson State University graduate to breaking glass ceilings in the National Guard is a testament to the power of dreaming big.
The Richardton native’s military career began in 1983 when she enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard as a senior in high school, inspired by her father, a National Guard colonel, and her brothers’ service.
Wilz retired on November 15, after more than 41 years of trailblazing achievements, Wilz leaves a legacy defined by numerous “firsts.” She was the first female Chief of Staff for the North Dakota Army National Guard, the first female Brigade Commander of the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, and the first woman in the state’s history to achieve the rank of one-star general in the Guard. In 2015, she became the first female commander of NATO Headquarters, a role that brought her international recognition. Her final assignment as Major General was serving as the Director of Staff for the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C.
At her retirement ceremony, Wilz shared this profound but simple advice: “Life is short, so everyone needs to live a great story.”
From the halls of Dickinson State to the global stage, Major General Gigi Wilz has certainly lived hers.
To learn more about Major General Wilz’s accomplishments, please visit: Major General Giselle M. Wilz > National Guard > Biographies
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By: Debora Dragseth, Baker Boy Professor of Leadership, School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Dickinson State University
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