AUGUSTA, Maine — On Friday, Gov. Janet Mills announced the retirement of Maj. Gen. Douglas Farnham, Maine’s Adjutant Gen. and Commissioner of the Department of Defense and nominated his successor.
Mills nominated retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Diane Dunn, to serve as Maine’s first female to lead the National Guard and hold the post of Commissioner, according to a press release from the Mills administration.
Mills thanked Farnham for his dedicated service.
“General Farnham is a highly respected leader of unwavering integrity whose counsel and advice has been invaluable to me and whose dedicated service has made our state and nation stronger,” Mills said. “I am deeply grateful for his service and wish him nothing but the best as he embarks upon his well-deserved retirement.”
Farnham shared how proud he was to serve his state for the last 40 years.
“It has been an honor to serve the governor and the state in this capacity,” Maj. Gen. Douglas A. Farnham said. “The Airmen, Soldiers, and employees of the Maine National Guard, Maine Emergency Management Agency, and the Maine Bureau of Veteran Services made me proud every day as they demonstrated their commitment and dedication to the people of Maine and the nation.”
The nominated successor General Dunn, is a former Assistant Adjutant General and Chief of Staff of the Maine Army National Guard, has 33 years of military service, and will replace Farnham if confirmed by the Legislature, the release stated.
First woman
In 2014, Dunn became the first woman to command a brigade in the Maine Army National Guard and was promoted to Brigadier General in 2020, making her the first female general officer in the 200-year history of the Maine National Guard, according to the release.
Dunn has served as company commander of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 286th Supply Services Battalion in Bangor, battalion commander of the 240th Regional Training Institute in Augusta, battalion commander of the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in both Bangor and Afghanistan, and brigade commander of the 120th Regional Support Group in Bangor, the release stated.
“General Dunn has served at the highest levels of the Maine National Guard. She is uniquely and highly qualified to serve as Adjutant General and Commissioner, and she is deeply respected by the men and women of the department who have served with her,” Mills said. “She is the right person to take on these immense responsibilities, and I am grateful that she is once again willing to answer the call to serve Maine and the nation.”
“I extend my deepest gratitude to Governor Mills for nominating me to serve as Adjutant General and Commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans, and Emergency Management. I have tremendous respect for our Airmen, Soldiers, and employees of the department who play a crucial role in protecting and serving our state and nation. It would be an honor and a privilege to once again lead them and to serve my beloved state,” Dunn said.
“I thank the countless friends, mentors, and colleagues who have shaped my career and who have supported me. If confirmed by the Legislature, I pledge to work hard every day, to lead with integrity, and to strive to fully discharge the responsibilities of the department to protect the lives, freedom, and property of Maine people," Dunn added.
Farnham endorsed his potential successor.
“General Dunn has earned respect in many circles, both in Maine and across the country, for her effective leadership and strategic planning skills. She understands and is committed to the role our National Guard has in national defense, as well as the State’s responsibilities to our veterans and emergency management,” Farnham said. “I have worked closely with Diane and know she will make an outstanding Adjutant General and Commissioner. She has my full support.”
General Farnham will continue to serve as Adjutant General and DVEM Commissioner until his successor is confirmed, according to the release.
A Word from Sen. Susan Collins
Sen. Collins released a statement on Friday to thank Farnham for his service.
“Major General Douglas Farnham’s nearly 40 years of military service stands as a testament to his steadfast commitment to the people of Maine and the United States. Serving as the Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard since 2016, General Farnham’s exceptional leadership and counsel have been critical to keeping our country and communities safe," Collins said in a press release. "I thank Doug for his lifelong service to Maine and our country, and I congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement."
Collins also gave hearty congratulations to Dunn for her nomination.
“I also want to congratulate U.S. Army Brigadier General Diane Dunn on her nomination to serve as Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard and Commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. General Dunn’s vast experience and trailblazing career in the Maine National Guard will serve her well in this new role," Collins said.