Ann E. Dunwoody was honored today at a Pentagon promotion ceremony, where she was awarded the highest rank of any U.S. female in military history. The first woman to become a Four-Star General, Dunwoody’s appointment was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July and the promotion was effective November 14, 2008.
Dunwoody joined the Army in 1975 and has had an illustrious 33 year career. Her unit is the U.S. Army Materiel Command and she participated in Desert Storm. The daughter of a career Army officer, she lived in Germany and Belgium growing up. She has been married to Retired Colonel Craig Brotchie of the USAF for the past 18 years.
The General had this to say about her career:
“I grew up in the Army and came from a family who, since 1862, has defended our nation. While I joined the Army right out of college, I planned to only stay in the Army to complete my two year commitment, but it wasn’t too long before I realized that there are no other shoes (boots) I would rather fill than the ones I’m wearing right now. As a soldier you can continually serve. It is a calling to be a soldier and there is a great sense of pride and camaraderie in serving the greatest Army in the world.”
Check out the video of General Dunwoody’s Pentagon ceremony below.