| Maj. Gen Marcelite J. Harris United States Air Force | |
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U.S. Air Force Photo |
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| Born | January 16, 1943 |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1965–1997 |
| 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 (born January 16, 1943) was the first African-American female general of the United States Air Force. Born Marcelite Jordan in Houston, Texas to Cecil O'Neal Jordan and Marcelite Terrill Jordan, Sr., Jordan graduated from Spelman College , earning her B.A. of arts degree in speech and drama in 1964.
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Major General Harris was commissioned through Officer Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in 1965. She has held a variety of assignments in the Air Force. Major General Marcelite J. Harris retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1997 as the highest ranking female officer in the Air Force and the Nation’s highest ranking African American woman in the Department of Defense. General Harris’s distinguished career in the service included many “firsts” as she was the first female aircraft maintenance officer; one of the first two female air officers commanding at the United States Air Force Academy; and the Air Force’s first female Vice Commander for maintenance. She also served as a White House social aide during the Carter administration. Her service medals and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Vietnam Service Medal. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Major General Harris served NASA as the Florida Site Director and Logistics Process Owner for the company managing the Nation’s Shuttle Program, United Space Alliance. In 1999 Major General Harris was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Spelman College, where she had previously earned her B.A. in Speech and Drama. She also holds a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Maryland University College. Mrs. Harris is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Major General Harris is now Treasurer of the Atlanta Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and serves as a Director on the Board of Peachtree Hope Charter School. Also, as of September 15, 2010, General Harris was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as a member of the Board of Visitors for the United States Air Force Academy. The Board inquires into the morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other matters relating to the Academy which the Board decides to consider. The Board meets at least four times per year, with at least two of those meetings at the Academy. The Board prepares semi-annual reports containing its views and recommendations pertaining to the Academy. Each written report is submitted concurrently to the Secretary of Defense, through the Secretary of the Air Force, and to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
Gen. Harris is married to Maurice A. Harris(Deceased). They have three adult children son Steven & daughters Tenecia and Sherri.