Mary Willis

Mary Catherine Willis (born January 31, 1940) is a retired US Army brigadier general.

The first female US Army Officer administrator at West Point, Willis was instrumental in the integration of women cadets at West Point in Summer 1976, overseeing three classes from 1976 to 1979. She has also been an advocate in the integration and fair treatment of women across all ranks of the US Army.

From 1989 to 1991, Willis was assigned in Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union. She commanded the 1st Personnel Command, two steps from the battalion. Her command ran the military jail in Europe, the postal system, and all the casualty reporting. She also served as the US Army's liaison with the mayors in the suburbs surrounding Heidelberg, Germany. She developed a close friendship with the mayor of Schwetzingen and his wife. In March 1990, Willis attended general officer orientation in Berlin.

Work with Joint Chiefs of Staff and Colin Powell After finishing her assignment as the Personnel commander, Willis was assigned to the Pentagon to the Joint Staff as a J1 ("Joint" and "1" "personnel") where she coordinated and developed consensus between the US Army, US Air Force, US Navy, and the US Marine Corps on various personnel policies. There, Willis worked for Joint Chief of Staff Colin Powell.

Willis and Powell would retire from the US military on the same day.

Post-military After her retirement from the US military, Willis worked at the National Guard Association in Washington, D.C., After living in Alexandria, Virginia, Willis moved back to Maryland's Eastern Shore in 1995, working at Salisbury State University. She also received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the university that year.

Awards and commendations Willis was awarded often as a military officer and received several of her medals and ribbons multiple times. Army Service Ribbon Far East Medal National Defense Service Medal Army Commendation Medal – 3 times Meritorious Service Medal – 5 times Overseas Service Ribbon – 3 times Defense Distinguished Service Medal