She only stands 5 feet, ½ inch, but Butte native Col. Amy Klima is a very big deal.

On Sunday, Col. Klima became the first female commander to oversee the 17th Sustainment Brigade of the Nevada Army National Guard. That amounts to more than two-thirds of the Nevada Army National Guard’s 3,350 soldiers.

Col. Klima, though, would rather be referred to the “shortest commander” instead of the first female commander.”

Either way, this promotion is something that Col. Klima never would have dreamed of when she grew up in a trailer park on Butte’s lower west side. She attended McKinley Elementary School through fifth grade, and then attended West Elementary for a year after McKinley closed.

Col. Klima graduated from Butte High School in June of 1993. That same month, she boarded a flight leaving Butte for the National Guard.

She said she was not prepared for bootcamp, but still pulled it off. She then rose through the ranks of the Army National Guard, working most of that time in Nevada.

The 17th Sustainment Brigade’s primary mission is to provide logistical and sustainment support to enable the readiness and capabilities of unites withing the Nevada National Guard, including supply, maintenance, transpiration and other vital logistical functions.

On Nov. 18, the brigade will be part of security planning for a Formula 1 race in Las Vegas. It will do the same for New Year’s Eve in Vegas and the Super Bowl in February.

When she spoke at the ceremony for her promotion Sunday, Col. Klima started off with a short joke. She says she has to.

Listen in to this podcast as Col. Klima talks about growing up in Butte. Listen as she talks about her love of McKinley and how she and Eddie Sullivan would sneak out of Mr. Sullivan’s study hall to buy doughnuts.

Listen as she talks about joining the National Guard and working her way up through the ranks.

Today’s podcast is presented by Casagranda’s Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat.

Courtesy photos of Col. Klima show her when she first joined the National Guard, at left, and today.