U.S. Names First Female 4-Star General

Va. Native Ann E. Dunwoody Also Sworn In As Commander Of The Army Materiel Command

(AP)  From its humble beginning 33 years ago at an Army post in Oklahoma, the career of Ann E. Dunwoody ascended Friday 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, Virginia - 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 George W. 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, "While I may be the first, I know I won't be the last."

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.

[blackyowe]

Congratulations from another member of Clan Maxwell!

[babooph]

Why was she not the VP choice-bet there would be few jokes !

[evian_ycnan]

Done woody

[kellyharris5]

We posted the DUI dashboard cam video, you decide. www.theseriouspolice.com

[kaylag04]

Posted by memerider: "This is a real achievement in an organization designed for and by males."

The problem is not a system designed for males, the problem is a system that has differeing and lower standards for females. Formerly rigorous training programs have decreased the rigor of training to allow more female soldiers to graduate and receive certain qualifications. This creates two damaging situations; 1.) The reinforcement of negative stereotypes regarding gender differences; 2) The prohibition against capable female soldiers demonstrating that they can compete at the higher, male standard of fitness and endurance. There needs to be a single, high standard of performance that allows all soldiers to compete at the same rigorius level, even if it results in fewer women in the military.

[billpl-2009]

you can rave and rant all you want about women''s rights and I''ll even agree with you 95% of the time, but....

Teaching women, the mothers and future mothers of our children, to kill people is all wrong
even if it''s in the defence of our own nation
sorry

[jaykay3141]

Grr! CBS''s filters won''t even handle an emoticon.

[jaykay3141]

o
..||
..||
./ .

I salute you, General!

[mygramma]

DeckardBR, ****. It IS about time that qualified women have even been considered for promotion to the top ranks, or even the lower ranks, of the general staff. 21 female brigadiers???? It''s NOT about token female promotions because they are long overdue. It''s about a system that blocked consideration of the ADVANCEMENT of QUALIFIED WOMEN and it''s about farging time THAT is over.

[memerider]

This is a real achievement in an organization designed for and by males. Congratulations to the new 4-star general.

[ludvig1-2009]

We saw the story on TV, but it didn''t say what she was. I told my wife I''ll bet she was a doctor. After reading the above story with her "astonished husband" speech, I told my wife "Nah, she''s a comedian."

[hatesthecolt]

Trust me, if you place her service record next to all the other male 3-stars out there, many of them will have more experience, including actual combat leadership, than her. That is unless you actually believe she''''s the most qualified 3-star in the Army, of course she could be the most qualified in the Logistics field.

...I''''m just sayin''''.


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Posted by alsdailynews

The lines between combat and combat support have been blurred to near indistinction over the last 20 years. Even in the early 80''s a "combat support" Military intelligence officer would share a tracked vehicle with two combat officers. It''s no longer true that one has to have been infantry to have been part of the battle. She is probably every bit as qualified (if not more) than a male counterpart who has spent most of his career in quartermaster corps.

[farino2]

It''s about time.

[standlee5]

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."''


That''s hilarious. I''d never heard that before. Good one, Ann

[sioux4life1]

Hoooah!

[clathrate]

Yeah, Ill bet she had dun a lot of woody. Thats how women get a head in this mans Army!


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Posted by DaVicar1

Yeah, you''d know a lot about getting a head wouldn''t ya? I think it''s safe to say you''re a "don''t ask don''t tell" type of guy.

Your trash never ceases to amaze me. It''s absolutely beyond your capability as an American to celebrate the distinguished career of a sucessful military hero.

Go crawl back into the roach motel you came out of.

[hatesthecolt]

The GOP is looking for fresh material to run in 2012, could be she is just what the doctor ordered.


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Posted by thgdriver1

It would be a mistake to assume she''s a Republican.

[seajaya]

"I guess a four-star general is kind of like a governor... only with actual responsibilities."

[evian_ycnan]

Grace Hopper would be proud

[observer2020]

Trust me on this one - No woman in the military gets her promotions "handed to her." Quite the opposite is true, and I should know.
General Dunwoody had to work at least three times as hard as her male counterparts to get to the top.
Posted by mswolfestock

Totally agree...women in the military have to work 10 times as hard as her male counterparts and have to be 10 times as sharp. Congratulations...well deserved, ma''am!