US Army has first female four-star general

[Metatwaddle]

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Army gets first female four-star general
Dunwoody will be responsible for equipping and arming all soldiers

WASHINGTON - The career of Ann E. Dunwoody ascended Friday from humble beginnings 33 years ago at Fort Sill, Okla., to a peak never before reached by a woman in the U.S. military: four-star general.

At an emotional promotion ceremony, Dunwoody added a fourth star and, looking back on her years in uniform, said it was a credit to the Army that she was given a chance to rise through the ranks in a male-dominated military.

"Thirty-three years after I took the oath as a second lieutenant, I have to tell you this is not exactly how I envisioned my life unfolding," she told a standing-room-only auditorium. "Even as a young kid, all I ever wanted to do was teach physical education and raise a family."

"It was clear to me that my Army experience was just going to be a two-year detour en route to my fitness profession," she added. "So when asked, 'Ann, did you ever think you were going to be a general officer, to say nothing about a four-star?' I say, 'Not in my wildest dreams.'

"There is no one more surprised than I — except, of course, my husband. You know what they say, 'Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man.'"

Later, at Fort Belvoir, Va. — her birthplace — Dunwoody was being sworn in as commander of the Army Materiel Command, responsible for equipping, outfitting and arming all soldiers. Just five months ago, she became the first female deputy commander there.

Dunwoody, 55, has made it clear that she feels no need for special acclaim for her historic achievement.

"The recognition makes her a little bit uncomfortable from the standpoint of the gender aspect — that we're making a big deal (that) she is the first female general officer," Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman, said Thursday in announcing that Defense Secretary Robert Gates would attend her promotion ceremony.

When she was nominated by President Bush in June for promotion to four-star rank, Dunwoody issued a statement saying she was humbled.

"I grew up in a family that didn't know what glass ceilings were," she said. "This nomination only reaffirms what I have known to be true about the military throughout my career — that the doors continue to open for men and women in uniform."

She also told an internal Army publication that "while I may be the first, I know I won't be the last."

Her nomination was confirmed by the Senate in July.

There are 21 female general officers in the Army — all but four at the one-star rank of brigadier. It was not until 1970 that the Army had its first one-star: Anna Mae Hays, chief of the Army Nurse Corps.

Women now make up about 14 percent of the active-duty Army and are allowed to serve in a wide variety of assignments. They are still excluded from units designed primarily to engage in direct combat, such as infantry and tank units, but their opportunities have expanded over the past two decades.

Dunwoody received her Army commission after graduating from the State University of New York in 1975.

Her first assignment was to Fort Sill, as supply platoon leader in June 1976, and she remained at Sill in various positions until she was sent to quartermaster officer school at Fort Lee, Va., in July 1980.

She later served in Germany and Saudi Arabia.

After graduating from the Command and General Staff College in 1987, she was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., where she became the 82nd Airborne Division's first female battalion commander.

She has numerous decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal and Defense Superior Service Medal.

[The Yosemite Bear]

all I can say is that it's about time...

[Lonestar]

I ran into her a couple times when I worked at HQDA...not very impressed.

[Guardsman Bass]

I ran into her a couple times when I worked at HQDA...not very impressed.

Any particular occurrences, or a general impression based on your interaction? I'm curious; it mentions at the end of the article that she won some awards.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

You can win "awards" in the US military for not pissing your pants on parade.

Most generals these days are political generals, anyway.

[Lonestar]

Any particular occurrences, or a general impression based on your interaction? I'm curious; it mentions at the end of the article that she won some awards.

She is of the "increased volume=leadership!" school. Not very tech savvy, either.

So, I suppose she could be a genius at being a supply officer, but from the worm's eye view I didn't like her.

[Wicked Pilot]

I'm curious; it mentions at the end of the article that she won some awards.

Not to downplay the ribbons she wears, or the years of hard work it took to achieve them, but they're essentially what you'd expect someone to have at that point in their career. After three years as a battalion commander doing a descent respectable job you'll get medal 'x', after three years as a brigade commander doing a descent respectable job you'll get medal 'y', and so on. Except for real combat decorations (which I'll point out is difficult for females to come across) the awards worn on someone's uniform point to seniority and little else.

[Guardsman Bass]

I'm curious; it mentions at the end of the article that she won some awards.

Not to downplay the ribbons she wears, or the years of hard work it took to achieve them, but they're essentially what you'd expect someone to have at that point in their career. After three years as a battalion commander doing a descent respectable job you'll get medal 'x', after three years as a brigade commander doing a descent respectable job you'll get medal 'y', and so on. Except for real combat decorations (which I'll point out is difficult for females to come across) the awards worn on someone's uniform point to seniority and little else.

Thanks - I don't know a lot about how internal military dynamics work out in terms of officers and promotions and the like.

[The Romulan Republic]

I don't envy her. Equiping US soldiers? Are they still having problems providing body armor?

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

I don't envy her. Equiping US soldiers? Are they still having problems providing body armor?

Eh.. Logistics is still a fairly important item on any Army's list of things to do, never mind dealing with contractors and such.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Any particular occurrences, or a general impression based on your interaction? I'm curious; it mentions at the end of the article that she won some awards.

She is of the "increased volume=leadership!" school. Not very tech savvy, either.

What does the first part mean, and what gave you the impression of the second?

[Shroom Man 777]

I think Lonestar is saying she's fat. Besides, Loinstar is in the Navy, isn't he? He just met the general once, so all he's got are vague and general impressions...

[Tsyroc]

Any particular occurrences, or a general impression based on your interaction? I'm curious; it mentions at the end of the article that she won some awards.

She is of the "increased volume=leadership!" school. Not very tech savvy, either.

What does the first part mean, and what gave you the impression of the second?

The first part is that when she wants something done she yells. If she wants it done better/faster/differently/over she yells louder.

I can't say for certain but I think Lonestar must have responded to a computer trouble call she put in while he was a civilian technician at the Pentagon and it was something stupid that any moron used to using a computer should be able to figure out. That's just a guess though. He'll have to give you the specifics.

IMO, if she's the sort of 4 star that is still using lots of yelling then she's a lousy 4 star.

[Lonestar]

What does the first part mean, and what gave you the impression of the second?

When I got out of the USN, my first job out was tech support for HQDA. Some of the more brilliant complaints that came out of her office were "why do I need an ISP to citrix into my email?"