Marcelite J. Harris

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maj. Gen Marcelite J. Harris United States Air Force
born January 16, 1943 (1943-01-16) (age 65)
U.S. Air Force Photo
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1965–1995
Rank	Major General
Unit	United States Air Force Academy
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Legion of Merit(2) Bronze Star Meritorious Service Medal (4) Air Force Commendation Medal(2)

Major General Marcelite J. Harris (January 16, 1943) was the first African-American female general of the United States Air Force. Major General Marcelite J. Harris is director of maintenance, deputy chief of staff, logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. She organizes, trains and equips a work force of more than 125,000 technicians and managers, and maintains the $260 billion plus Global Reach-Global Power aerospace weapons system inventory. She develops maintenance policy, ensuring the readiness of the single largest element of manpower supporting Air Force combat forces worldwide. She determines and defends an annual budget of more than $20 billion to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Office of Management and Budget and Congress.

The general was commissioned through Officer Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in 1965. She has held a variety of assignments, many of which resulted in "firsts" for women in the Air Force. She was the first woman aircraft maintenance officer, one of the first two women air officers commanding at the United States Air Force Academy, and the first woman deputy commander for maintenance. She also served as a White House social aide during the Carter administration.

(Taken from U.S. Air Force Biography)