General Ann E. Dunwoody, U.S. Army – General Dunwoody graduated from State University of New York at Cortland in 1975 with a Bachelor’s in physical education. Later, she earned a Master’s degree during her years of service in logistics management from Florida Institute of Technology in 1988 and another Master’s in natural resource strategy from the Industrial College of Armed Forces in 1995. General Dunwoody became the first female battalion commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and the first female general at Fort Bragg. In 2012, General Dunwoody retired as a General after 37 years of service.
Colonel Yvonne Cagle, U.S. Air Force, N.A.S.A. – Col. Cagle graduated from San Francisco State University in 1981 with a Bachelor’s in Arts in Biochemistry and from the University of Washington in 1985 with a Doctorate in Medicine. Col. Cagle received her certification in Aerospace Medicine from Brooks Airforce Base in 1985, a certification as a senior aviation medical examiner in 1995 from the Federal Aviation Administration and an honorary Ph.D. in Humanities in 2014 from Fordham. During her Air Force career, Col. Cagle was involved in mission support of aircraft providing medical support and rescue for aeromedical missions. For NASA, Col. Cagle conducted job related exams, health screenings for astronauts, and designing medical protocols. In 1996, Col. Cagle became qualified for fight assignment as a mission specialist to fix the international space station and the NASA Ames Research Center.
Colonel Andi Vinyard, U.S. Air Force. – For 22 years, Col. Vinyard served in the Air Force as a healthcare administrator. Throughout her career, she held many top leadership positions within the Air Force, some of which include Commander and Health System Chief Operating Officer for the 59th Medical Support Group, Medical Group Commander for the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group, and Senior Policy Advisor for the Surgeon General of the United States. Col. Vinyard has three master’s degrees in National Security Strategy, Military Operational Arts and Sciences, and Human resources, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Management from the U.S. Airforce Academy. After retiring from the Air Force, Col. Vinyard returned to school to obtain her Executive MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg EMBA program in Evanston Illinois and will graduate in 2020 alongside the world’s most prestigious Executive Master of Business Administration students.
Lieutenant Colonel Marcella Ann Hayes NG, U.S. Army – LTC Hayes graduated from the Army ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin in 1979 with a Bachelor’s in English. She went on to becoming the first black female to receive aviator wings in 1979 by completing flight training at Fort Rucker in Alabama. LTC Hayes served for 22 years and retired from the Army in 2000.
Rear Admiral Yvette M. Davids, U.S. Navy – Rear Adm. Davids graduated the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor’s degree in Oceanography in 1989. She also graduated the Naval War College in 2002 with a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies, as well as a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of Armed Forces in 2012. She served aside the deputy of chief of staff, U.S. Pacific Fleet, as a joint exercise communications planner at the Joint Training and Analysis Center, Joint Forces Command; deputy executive assistant to the deputy chief of naval operations for Information, Plans, and Strategy, and was the U.S. Department of State senior military advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs. Today, she assumes command of Carrier Strike Group 11 and is the recipient of the MANA National Latina Organization’s “Las Primera’s” award, as the first Hispanic female to command a warship in the Navy.
Commander Zeita Merchant, U.S. Coast Guard – Commander Merchant attended Coast Guard Officer Candidate School shortly after graduating with honors from Tougaloo College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She also earned a Master of Public Administration in Environmental and Emergency Management from George Washington University and a Doctorate in Business Administration in 2011. Additionally, she is a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Education Leadership in Homeland Security Course and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI National Security and Foreign Affairs Fellow. CDR Merchant has been in the Coast Guard for over 20 years, working on marine safety and in the emergency environmental management field. She has served as the Executive Officer of Marine Safety, Congressional Fellow for two committees in the House of Representatives, Supervisor for the Port of Miami Field Office and Chief of Port Operations at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami, and Special Assistant to the Vie Commandant of the Coast Guard. Commander Merchant currently is the Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Unit Chicago and is the first black female to command a Prevention/Marine Safety Unit.
Sergeant Major Angela M. Maness, United States Marine Corps – Sgt Maj. Maness joined the United States Marine Corps in 1987 and graduated as the platoon honor recruit in 1987 in Parris Island, South Carolina. She served as the record book clerk for Camp Johnson before completing school and receiving orders for Marine Corps Combat Development Command. She became the administrative chief of Camp Lejeune and eventually became a drill instructor at Parris Island. She attended Officer Candidate School and was promoted to gunnery sergeant to serve as the adjutant for the 9th Engineer Support Battalion in Okinawa Japan. In 2010, Sgt. Maj. Maness made history as the first female to assume the duties of senior enlisted Marine at Marine Barracks Washington. In 2017, Sgt. Maj. Maness retired after 30 years of service in the United States Marine Corps.
Major General Laura L. Yeager, U.S. Army National Guard – Maj. Gen. Yeager has served the Army National Guard for 34 years. Yeager graduated from the University of California with a Bachelor’s degree in Phycology, Chapman University with a Masters in Phycology, and the United States Army War College with a Masters of Social Science in Strategic Studies. Yeager graduated from the Army’s Flight School to earn her pilots’ wings from Fort Rucker Alabama and currently holds more than 1500 flight hours. She has served as a Platoon Leader for the 423rd Medical Company, Aeromedical Evacuation Officer, Brigade Equal Opportunity Advisor, Brigade Executive Officer and Commander of the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, Chief and Director of Joint Staff at the Joint Forces Headquarters, and Commander of the 40th Infantry Division. Major General Yeager became the first female to command a United States Army infantry division.
Lieutenant General Nadja West, U.S. Army – Lt. General West, graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, George Washington University School of Medicine with a Doctorate of Medicine, and The United States War College with a Master of Science in National Security Strategy. West has held positions including Commanding General of Europe region Medical Command, commander of Womack Army Medical Center, Divisional Surgeon of the 1st Armored Division and Army Europe. West also served as Joint Staff Surgeon in Washington D.C. West retired in 2019 after 37 years of service. Serving as the 44th U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical command, West made history as the first black female active duty major general and the first black female major general in Army Medicine. West is also the first Army black female lieutenant general and the highest-ranking woman to have graduated from the United States Military Academy.
Lieutenant Carey Lorenz, U.S. Navy – Lt. Lorenz graduated from the University of Wisconsin before attending Aviation Officer Candidate School at the Naval Air Station where she learned how to fly advanced jets. Lt. Lorenz went on to earn her aviator wings to fly F-14 Tomcats with the F-14 Fleet Replacement Squadron and Fighter Squadron 124. Lt. Lorenz was the first female Naval Aviator to train as a fighter pilot in the F-14 Tomcat. After retiring from the Navy in 1999, 9 years after receiving her commission, she began her civilian career as a leadership expert, professional speaker, and author of multiple books about her experiences as a female aviator and how it relates to the business world. She continues to inspire men and women in all office and personal settings though her speeches, books, and television appearances.
Private First-Class Harold C. Agerholm, United States Marine Corps – PFC Agerholm single-handedly loaded and evacuated 45 casualties with utter disregard for his own safety. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.
Staff Sergeant Ty M. Carter, U.S. Army – SSG Carter risked his life to save others by running under fire to resupply ammunition, allowing the few remaining soldiers to keep from being overran by the enemy insurgents.
Hospital Corpsman Third Class Edward C. Benfold, U.S. Navy – HM3 Benfold saved the lives of two wounded Marines and was killed in action by enemy grenades in the Battle of Bunker Hill. For his acts he was awarded with the Medal of Honor.