Carol Mutter

Carol A. Mutter (née Schneider) (born December 17, 1945) is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general. She is the first woman in the history of the United States Armed Forces to be nominated to be a three-star rank (O-9), and the first female to be promoted to lieutenant general.

She entered Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado), intending to become a teacher. She became interested in mathematics and sciences, where her classes had predominantly male students, including many former military attending in the G.I. Bill. During the summer between her junior and senior years, she attended a ten-week Women Officer Candidate Course (WOCC) in Quantico, Virginia. She entered her senior year to complete her student teaching requirements. She received her bachelor's degree in Mathematics Education. On September 1, 1996, Mutter was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed the duties as Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC/S M&RA). Mutter joined the WMA as an active duty second lieutenant and, a WMA Life Member, continued to be involved after completing her term on the board. She was also appointed to the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS), which she chaired from 2002 to 2006. DACOWITS is "composed of civilian women and men appointed by the Secretary of Defense to provide advice and recommendations on matters and policies relating to the recruitment, retention, employment, integration, well-being, and treatment of women in the Armed Forces of the United States."

Mutter also served on the Advisory Board of the Indiana Council on World Affairs, the Indiana State (legislative) Commission on Military and Veterans Affairs, as well as being a Senior Fellow at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia.

Personal life

Mutter is married to James M. Mutter, who retired from the Marine Corps in July 1993, after 36 years of service,

In 2008, Mutter spoke at the Republican National Convention in support of Senator John McCain, the party's nominee for president.

Awards, recognitions, honors

Military Firsts In Mutter's career in the military, she achieved a number of firsts:

First female lieutenant general in the Marine Corps (September 1, 1996)

Military decorations

Navy Distinguished Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalNavy and Marine Corps Commendation MedalNavy and Marine Corps Achievement MedalNavy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 1 service starNational Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service starNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 4 service stars

Civilian honors and recognitions Mutter was honored by her alma mater, the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) — first in 1992 when she was given the Trail Blazer Honored Alumni Award, and in 1994, when she was chosen to be the UNC's commencement speaker. "a non-profit education and service foundation [501c3] with the mission to ‘Acknowledge, Honor, Encourage and Educate Women’".

In 2004, Mutter was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. Born and raised in Colorado, she was chosen for making "significant and enduring contributions to her field", elevating "the status of women... in society", and inspiring "others as a role model".

In 2017, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame, the United States' "oldest organization honoring American women".