Ann E. Dunwoody

Ann Elizabeth Dunwoody (born 14 January 1953) is a retired general of the United States Army. She was the first woman in United States military and uniformed service history to achieve a four-star officer rank, receiving her fourth star on 14 November 2008.

In 2005 Dunwoody became the United States Army's top-ranking female when she received the promotion to lieutenant general (three stars) and became the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4 (logistics). She was nominated as Commanding General, United States Army Materiel Command, by President George W. Bush on 23 June 2008, and confirmed by the Senate one month later. She served in that capacity until 7 August 2012, and retired from the Army on 15 August 2012. at Fort Belvoir, Virginia to Elizabeth and Harold H. Dunwoody. Harold was a career U.S. Army officer who retired as a brigadier general, and Dunwoody's family followed him on assignment overseas. Ann lived in Germany and Belgium while growing up, graduating from Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) American High School in 1971.

At age 5, Dunwoody decided she wanted to become a doctor or nurse. Although she came from a family with a strong tradition of military service, she initially had very little interest in serving in the military. After high school Dunwoody attended State University of New York College at Cortland. During her junior year of college, Dunwoody attended a four-week Army introductory program that could be continued, if interested, with an eleven-week Women's Officer Orientation Course, which then led to a two-year commitment. In 1975 she committed, became a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps and attended the United States Army Airborne School. It was then that she realized the Army was "an organization that was as values-based as the family I came out of, and to find probably my real passion was soldiering. I just didn't know it because I had never experienced it".

Career

In 1975, Dunwoody graduated from State University of New York College at Cortland with a degree in physical education—Cortland is a Top Ten school in that field—and was direct commissioned into the Women's Army Corps. In an interview with the Military Logistics Forum, Dunwoody explained what drew her to become a soldier:

Dunwoody's first assignment was as a platoon leader with the 226th Maintenance Company, 100th Supply and Services Battalion, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. During her 30 years as a Quartermaster Corps officer she commanded the 226th Maintenance Company Fort Sill, Oklahoma; 5th Quartermaster Detachment (Airborne) Kaiserslautern, Germany; the 407th Supply and Service Battalion/ 782d Main Support Battalion (MSB), Fort Bragg, North Carolina; the 10th Mountain Division Support Command (DISCOM), Fort Drum, New York; the 1st Corps Support Command (1st COSCOM), Fort Bragg, North Carolina; the Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC)/Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), Alexandria, Virginia; and the Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM), Fort Lee, Virginia.

Dunwoody's major staff assignments include service as the Parachute Officer, 82nd Airborne Division; strategic planner for the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA); Executive Officer to the Director, Defense Logistics Agency; and Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics G-4.

From May 1989 to May 1991, Dunwoody served as executive officer and later division parachute officer for the 407th Supply and Transportation Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg and deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield/Operation Desert Storm. in 2001, As the 1st Corps Support Command Commander she deployed the Logistics Task Force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 1 and stood up the Joint Logistics Command in Uzbekistan in support of Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF)-180. As Commander of Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), she supported the largest deployment and redeployment of United States forces since World War II.

Sexual assault prevention Dunwoody, along with George W. Casey Jr. were avid in pushing for a decrease in sexual assault within the United States Army. Dunwoody believes that the United States Army should set an example for the rest of the world and that they have "critical work left to do" in order to significantly decrease sexual assault, but they are making progress.

Logistics

Dunwoody was in charge of all Army logistics. Her education came from the Florida Institute of Technology and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. During her career, Dunwoody managed the largest global logistics command in Army history, with 69,000 military and civilian employees located in all 50 states and more than 140 countries, with a budget of $60 billion. She was also responsible for oversight of approximately $70 billion in service contracts and "managed and operationalized the Army's global supply chain for numerous engagements". Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno claimed that Dunwoody was "quite simply the best logistician the Army has ever had".

Dunwoody participated with First Lady Michelle Obama in a forum for promising girls in Washington, D.C. public schools in March 2009.

Dunwoody officially retired from the United States Army after 37 years on 15 August 2012. Her promotion ceremony was held at the Pentagon, with introductory speeches by United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Army Chief of Staff General George W. Casey.

Casey's successor as Army chief of staff, General Raymond T. Odierno, intended to recommend Dunwoody to succeed Air Force general Duncan J. McNabb as commander of the United States Transportation Command in 2011, which would have made her the first Army general to lead TRANSCOM as well as the first female combatant commander. Dunwoody, citing the physical toll of her present duties, declined the offer, opting to retire after finishing her tour at AMC.

Dunwoody has a long family history of United States military service—going back five generations. Her niece, Jennifer Schoeck, is a United States Air Force fighter pilot.

Military awards, decorations, and honors Dunwoody's military awards and decorations include:

Other honors 1998 Recipient of the Military Distinguished Order of Saint Martin (Army Quartermaster Corps). 2001 Distinguished Alumna for Cortland State SUNY. 2002 Inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Quartermaster Regiment. 2004 Recipient of the National Defense Transportation Association's DoD Distinguished Service Award. 2007 Recipient of Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) Distinguished Service Award. 2008 First female four-star general in the United States Armed Services. 2012 Inducted into the Quartermaster Hall of Fame 2012 Recipient Ancient Order of Saint Martin (Army Quartermaster Corps) 2009 recipient of the Association of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces Eisenhower Award 2011 recipient of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Theodore Roosevelt Award 2011 recipient of the French National Order of Merit 2013 Inducted into the U.S. Army Women's Foundation Hall of Fame Keys to: Madison County, Huntsville city and Madison city USO Woman of the Year 2018 Honorary Doctorate of Humanities. Michigan State University 2019 recipient of the Sylvanus Thayer Award