Hearty cheers filled the Pentagon auditorium recently as history was made when a fourth star was pinned on the shoulders of the new chief of the National Guard Bureau — for the first time in its almost four centuries of existence.

Just as important to the hundreds of Guardsmen in attendance, Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley also will serve as principal adviser to the defense secretary, through the Joint Chiefs chairman, on all National Guard matters. No such position previously existed.

McKinley will also continue as principal adviser to the Army and Air Force secretaries and staff chiefs on matters related to the Army and Air national guards.

"This elevation of the chief of the National Guard Bureau to four stars underscores the critical importance of the Guard to America's overall national defense," Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the gathering. "It also signifies the vital role the chief has in bridging the state and federal components of our government, and the active and reserve components of our military."

McKinley's promotion "is recognition of his outstanding leadership abilities, and shows the confidence the president and I have in him to be the nation's senior Guard officer at such a critical time," Gates said.

Several of the roughly 30 states adjutants general in attendance said the move is long overdue.

"The awareness will be much increased about the critical role that the National Guard plays for our nation, both at home and in combat operations around the world," said Army Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, Hawai'i's adjutant general. "When you add the Army and the Air Guard together, it's just short of a half-million folks. So it's about time we got a four-star general that controls so many resources."

The fourth star and new advisory role follow recommendations by the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves and last year's Defense Authorization Act, in which Congress also established the Guard as a joint activity of the Defense Department.

McKinley succeeds Lt. Gen. Stephen Blum, who in January will become the first National Guard deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command — another commission recommendation.