Marcelite J. Harris

Maj. Gen Marcelite J. Harris

U.S. Air Force Photo
Born January 16, 1943
Houston, Texas
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

Major General Marcelite J. Harris (born January 16, 1943, Houston, Texas) became the first African-American female general officer of the United States Air Force. She was born Marcelite Jordan to Cecil O'Neal Jordan and Marcelite Terrill Jordan, Sr.

Education and early career

Marcelite Jordan graduated from Spelman College, earning her B.A. in speech and drama in 1964. She was commissioned through Officer Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in 1965 and held a variety of assignments in the Air Force. Marcelite Harris’s career 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 Director of Maintenance.[1] She 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. Harris retired as a major general in 1997, the highest ranking female officer in the Air Force and the Nation’s highest ranking African American woman in the Department of Defense. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Harris served NASA as the Florida Site Director and Logistics Process Owner for United Space Alliance, the company managing the Nation’s Shuttle Program. Besides her Spelman B.A., she holds a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Maryland University College. In 1999, Harris was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Spelman College. Mrs. Harris is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Current work

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.

Personal

Gen. Harris was married to Maurice A. Harris (deceased). They have three adult children; a son, Steven, and daughters, Tenecia and Sherri.

Awards and decorations

Master Maintenance Badge
Personal decorations

Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges

Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster[1]
Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges. Bronze Star Medal[1]

Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.

Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Unit awards
Presidential Unit Citation
V

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device; silver, and two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Second ribbon required for proper spacing of accoutrements

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with bronze oak leaf cluster
Campaign and service medals
Bronze star

Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes

National Defense Service Medal with bronze Service star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star

Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze campaign stars
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon

Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster

Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon
Foreign awards
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Other achievements

1990 - Woman of the Year, National Organization of Tuskegee Airmen, also listed in "Who's Who Among Black Americans", "Who's Who in America and "Who's Who Among American Business Women"
1990 - Outstanding Young Woman of America
1991 - Most Prestigious Individual, Dollars and Sense Magazine
1992 - Woman of Enterprise, Journal Recording Publishing Co., Oklahoma City
1995 - "Women of Distinction" Award, Thomas W. Anthony Chapter, Air Force Association
1995 - "Military African American Woman" for contributions to the Department of Defense, National Political Congress of Black Women, Inc.
1995 - "Black Woman of Courage," National Federation of Black Women Business Owners
1996 - Ellis Island Medal of Honor
2010 - "Trailblazer Award," Black Girls Rock Foundation

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions
Insignia Rank Date
Major GeneralMay 25, 1995
Brigadier GeneralMay 1, 1991
ColonelSeptember 1, 1986
Lieutenant ColonelOctober 1, 1981
MajorApril 1, 1975
CaptainDecember 21, 1969
First LieutenantJanuary 21, 1967
Second LieutenantDecember 21, 1965

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "MAJOR GENERAL MARCELITE J HARRIS". Retrieved May 16, 2014.
"Major General Marcelite J. Harris", URL accessed 08/21/06
Maj. Gen. Harris's career biography at Air Force (af.mil) website, accessed 6/12/2010
USAFA Board of Visitors, accessed 2/5/2011
U.S. Key Administration, accessed 2/5/2011