U.S. Army's Dunwoody nominated to four-star general

President Bush has nominated Lt. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody of the Army for appointment to general and assignment as commander of the Army Material Command.

Dunwoody is deputy commanding general/chief of staff for the Army Material Command. If confirmed by the Senate, she will be the first female four-star general in American history.

Her 33 years of service, highlighted by extraordinary leadership and devotion to duty, make her exceptionally qualified for this senior position," said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in a statement Monday.

Dunwoody was commissioned into the Army in 1975 and has served in several positions of command. She served as commander of the Surface Deployment Distribution Command (formerly the Military Traffic Management Command) from October 2002 to August 2004.

The first female service member to achieve the rank of brigadier general was Col. Anna Mae Hays, chief of the Army Nurse Corps., on June 11, 1970. There are 57 active-duty female generals in the U.S. military, five of whom are lieutenant generals. 

Source: American Shipper