Ann Elizabeth Dunwoody
General, U.S. Army

The Early Years

Ann Elizabeth Dunwoody was born on 14 January 1953 at Fort Belvoir, VA, to Harold and Elizabeth Dunwoody. Her father was a career Army officer, and the family lived in Germany and Belgium while she was growing up. She graduated from Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) American High School in 1971.

In 1975, Dunwoody graduated from State University of New York College at Cortland with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education and was directly commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Women's Army Corps. In an interview with the Military Logistics Forum, Dunwoody explained what drew her to become a soldier:

"I grew up in the Army and came from a family who, since 1862, has defended our nation. My great grandfather, my grandfather, my father, my brother, my sister, my niece and my husband are all veterans of this country's wars. My father is a veteran of three wars and is one of the 25 million veterans living today who served the nation with such incredible courage.

While I joined the Army right out of college, I planned to only stay in the Army to complete my two-year commitment, but it wasn't too long before I realized that there are no other shoes [boots] I would rather fill then the ones I am wearing right now. As a soldier you can continually serve. It is a calling to be a soldier and there is a great sense of pride and camaraderie in serving the greatest Army in the world."

Dunwoody's first assignment was as a platoon leader with the 226th Maintenance Company, 100th Supply and Services Battalion, Fort Sill, OK. During her 30+ years as a Quartermaster Corps officer she has commanded the 226th Maintenance Company Fort Sill, OK; 5th Quartermaster Detachment (Airborne) Kaiserslautern, Germany; the 407th Supply and Service Battalion/ 782d Main Support Battalion (MSB), Fort Bragg, NC; the 10th Mountain Division Support Command (DISCOM), Fort Drum, NY; the 1st Corps Support Command (1st COSCOM), Fort Bragg, NC; the Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC)/Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), Alexandria, VA; and the Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM), Fort Lee, VA.

Her major staff assignments include service as the Parachute Officer, 82nd Airborne Division; Strategic Planner for the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA); Executive Officer to the Director, Defense Logistics Agency; and Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics G-4 in 2005 with the rank of Lieutenant General.

From May 1989 to May 1991, Dunwoody served as Executive Officer and later Division Parachute Officer for the 407th Supply and Transportation Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg and deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield/Operation Desert Storm. In 2001, as the 1st Corps Support Command Commander, she deployed the Logistics Task Force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 1 and stood up the Joint Logistics Command in Uzbekistan in support of Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF)-180. As Commander of Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), she supported the largest deployment and redeployment of U.S. forces since WWII.

Dunwoody was Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command from 17 June 2008 to 13 November 2008. On 23 June 2008, President George W. Bush nominated her to serve as the next Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command. She was confirmed by the Senate on 23 July 2008 and began her new command on 14 November 2008 when she was pinned with her fourth star by Army Chief of Staff General George W. Casey and her husband, Colonel Craig Brotchie, USAF (Retired). She served in that capacity until 7 August 2012 and retired from the Army on 15 August 2012.

Dunwoody participated with First Lady Michelle Obama in a forum for promising girls in Washington, DC public schools in March 2009.

Career Firsts

First woman to command a battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division in 1992

Fort Bragg's first female general officer in 2000

First woman to command the Combined Arms Support Command at Fort Lee, VA, in 2004

First female soldier to achieve three-star rank (in 2005) since Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, the former Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, who retired in 2000

First woman in U.S. military history to achieve the rank of four-star General on 14 November 2008. Her promotion ceremony was held at the Pentagon, with introductory speeches by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Army Chief of Staff General George W. Casey.

Education

• Quartermaster Officers' Basic Course and Basic Airborne School in 1976
• Quartermaster Officers Advanced Course
• Command and General Staff College
• Master of Science Degree in Logistics Management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1988.
• Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1995.
• U.S. Army Jumpmaster Course graduate.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Army Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Army Superior Unit Award with 3 Bronze Service Stars
Master Parachutist Badge
Parachute Rigger Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge

She was also awarded the Parachutist Badge of Germany.

Honors

• 1998 Recipient of the Military Distinguished Order of Saint Martin (Army Quartermaster Corps).
• 2001 Distinguished Alumna for Cortland State SUNY.
• 2002 Inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Quartermaster Regiment.
• 2004 Recipient of the National Defense Transportation Association's DoD Distinguished Service Award.
• 2007 Recipient of Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) Distinguished Service Award.
• 2008 First female 4-star general in the U.S. Armed Services.

Family & Military Heritage

General Dunwoody has a family history of U.S. military service going back five generations. She grew up in a military household, the daughter of Elizabeth and Harold H. Dunwoody.

Her great-grandfather, Brigadier General Henry Harrison Chase Dunwoody, an 1862 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, was the Chief Signal Officer in Cuba from 1898 to 1901. Her father retired from the U.S. Army as a Brigadier General in 1973 [Honoree Record 309630]. Brigadier General Dunwoody is a highly decorated veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was badly wounded in France during World War II and earned the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery while serving as a battalion commander in the Korean War. As a Brigadier General, he commanded the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) during the Vietnam War.

Her brother, Harold H. "Buck" Dunwoody, Jr. is a 1970 West Point graduate.

Her older sister, Susan Schoeck, was the third woman in the Army to become a helicopter pilot.

Her niece, Jennifer Schoeck, is a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot.

She has been married to Colonel Craig Brotchie, USAF (Retired), for 18 years.

Quotes

"I am very honored but also very humbled today with this announcement, I grew up in a family that didn't know what glass ceilings were. This nomination only reaffirms what I have known to be true about the military throughout my career that the doors continue to open for men and women in uniform." Lieutenant General Ann Dunwoody

"I have never considered myself anything but a Soldier. I recognize that with this selection, some will view me as a trailblazer, but it's important that we remember the generations of women, whose dedication, commitment and quality of service helped open the doors of opportunity for us today." Lieutenant General Ann Dunwoody

"There is no one more surprised than I - except, of course, my husband. You know what they say, 'Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man.' " Lieutenant General Ann Dunwoody

"I have followed her career for 33 years. Every assignment she has ever had, she's done in an outstanding manner. So it really doesn't surprise me she was the first woman selected for four stars." Dunwoody's Father, retired Brigadier General Harold H. Dunwoody.

"Lieutenant General Dunwoody's nomination not only underscores her significant contributions and success throughout 33 years of service, but also shows the level of possible opportunity in our Army's diverse, quality, all-volunteer force. Our nation will continue to benefit from Lieutenant General Dunwoody's leadership as the Army continues to build strength from our diversity." General George W. Casey, Chief of Staff of the Army

"Her 33 years of service, highlighted by extraordinary leadership and devotion to duty, make her exceptionally qualified for this senior position," Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense