Rising Stars: LTG Ann Dunwoody

Army General Ann E. Dunwoody was the first servicewoman nominated to become a four-star general by President Bush on June 23, 2008. On July 23, 2008, the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment of LTG Ann E. Dunwoody to the grade of four-star general. General Dunwoody was also confirmed for assignment as commanding general, U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), headquartered at Fort Belvoir, VA. She will oversee more than 56,000 soldiers and civilians who provide logistical support to the Army.

Prior to her recent appointment as deputy commanding general and chief of staff of AMC, the general served as deputy chief of staff, G-4, United States Army, Washington, D.C. General Dunwoody has served 33 years in the Army and hails from a family that has served in the Army for five generations. .

She will now be the first female four-star general. She was one of only five female three-star general / flag officers in the armed forces. A Department of Defense (DoD) news release about the nomination noted that there are 56 other active duty and 47 reserve servicewomen who are one- or two-star generals. By law, the Army is limited to 11 active-duty four-star generals.

In a statement, released June 23, General Dunwoody said she was both "honored and humbled" to be nominated. "This nomination only reaffirms what I have known to be true about the military throughout my career," she said, "that the doors continue to open for men and women in uniform."

More on General Dunwoody’s career follows.

General Ann E. Dunwoody received a direct commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1975, after graduating from the State University of New York at Cortland, and receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education. She earned a Master of Science Degree in Logistics Management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1988 and a Master of Science Degree in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1995.

After graduating from both the Quartermaster Officers’ Basic Course and Basic Airborne School in 1976, General Dunwoody was assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. At Fort Sill, she served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Adjutant in the 100th Supply and Transport Battalion, and commanded the 226th Light Maintenance Company (Forward, Direct Support).

Upon completion of the Quartermaster Advanced Course, General Dunwoody was assigned to the 8th Infantry Division as the Community Adjutant and shortly thereafter to the 29th Area Support Group in Germany, where she commanded the 5th Quartermaster Detachment (Air Delivery).

In 1984, General Dunwoody was assigned to the Military Personnel Center as the Quartermaster Captains Assignment Officer. Following Command and General Staff College, she joined the 82d Airborne Division where she served as the Division Property Book Officer and then as the Executive Officer of the 407th Supply and Transportation Battalion. She deployed with the 82d as the Division Parachute Officer for Desert Shield and Desert Storm from September 1990 to March 1991. Upon her return she was assigned as the Deputy Chief of Staff, G4.

In 1992, she assumed command of the 407th Supply and Transportation Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, she then assumed command of the 782d Main Support Battalion in October 1993. Following command she attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Her next assignment was as a strategic planner for the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA). In June of 1996, she took command of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) Support Command. Following command she was assigned to Fort Belvoir where she served as the Executive Officer to the Director, Defense Logistics Agency.

From July 2000 through August 2002 she served as the Commanding General of the 1st Corps Support Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, deploying a Log Task Force in support of OEF and the Joint Logistics Command to Uzbekistan in support of CJTF 180. From October 2002 to August 2004 she commanded the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. In September 2004 she was assigned as the Commanding General of the United States Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee. She served as the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics before becoming Deputy Commander of Army Materiel Command, Ft Belvoir, VA.

General Dunwoody's long and distinguished list of military decorations include: the Distinguished Service Medal, with oak leaf cluster; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal; the Army Achievement Medal; the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star; SWASM (2 campaign stars); and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. She is also among the small but growing number of servicewomen who have earned a Master Parachutist Badge and a Parachutist Rigger Badge.

(July 2008)

Source: http://www.hqda.army.mil/logweb/leadership.htm
http://www.womensmemorial.org/News/FourStar.html