I recently read that members of our local legislative delegation, Rep. David Boyer and Rep John Andrews, voted against the nomination of General Diane Dunn to succeed General Douglas Farnham as the state adjutant general of the Maine National Guard.

I worked for a number of years with then-Lt. Col. Dunn while she was in charge of building training facilities for the guard and civilian first responders, and as the guard’s liaison to the Maine Emergency Management Agency. I found her to be smart, ethical and determined, with a work ethic that no one else could match.

She worked long hours during state emergencies and disasters and was an accomplished problem solver. She also commanded troops in Afghanistan and served as the Maine Guard’s chief of staff and deputy adjutant general. The regular Army frequently assigned her difficult projects around the country, because they knew she would complete them successfully.

She was apparently asked by these representatives if she advanced in the military because she was a woman or a minority rather than on merit and whether diversity was important in the guard. My view of her career was that she had to work hard to be properly advanced in rank and her advancement was based on merit alone.

She is the finest soldier I ever worked with and is the most qualified officer, male or female, to lead the Maine National Guard. The Senate was right on Thursday to confirm her nomination.

Mark Hyland, Poland