Sheri Swokowski

Sheri Swokowski (born 1950) is an American advocate for transgender rights and former U.S. Army colonel.

Personal life Swokowski was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, one of four children of a former Army veteran and a nurse. Swokowski enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard and joined her local sheriff's department as a reserve deputy after graduating from high school. While serving in the Army, Swokowski taught in the ROTC at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and commanded a light infantry company. At the time of her retirement, she was director of manpower and personnel for the Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard.

After retiring from the Army, Swokowski taught at the U.S. Army Force Management School at Fort Belvoir as a contractor starting in 2006.

Advocacy In response to being dismissed from Force Management School, Swokowski became an advocate for transgender rights in the military and LGBT employment non-discrimination laws. She worked with U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin to promote the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and Baldwin shared her story during the House Committee on Education and Labor meeting on September 23, 2009.

Swokowski submitted a request in May 2014 to have her name updated on DD Form 214, the "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty". The Army Board for Correction of Military Records issued a correction in January 2015, making Swokowski the highest-ranking transgender Army veteran.