Marcelite J. Harris
Marcelite Jordan Harris (born January 16, 1943 in Houston , Texas - † September 7, 2018 ) was an American officer ( major general ). She was the first African American woman to reach general rank in the United States Air Force .
Life
Harris studied at Atlanta University Center (Bachelor of Arts, 1964) and later Business Administration at the University of Maryland University College (Bachelor of Science, 1988). She became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta. From 1965 she was an officer candidate at Lackland Air Force Base and took a. a. participated in the Vietnam War. In 1997, she retired as the highest-ranking female officer in the United States Air Force. At her retirement she was also the senior African American female officer in the United States Armed Forces . She then served on the Board of Visitors of the United States Air Force Academy. She was married and had three children.
Awards
Selection of decorations, sorted based on the Order of Precedence of Military Awards :
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Legion of Merit with oak leaves
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Bronze star
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Meritorious Service Medal with triple oak leaves -
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaves -
National Defense Service Medal (2 ×) -
Vietnam Service Medal
Web links
- Marcelite J. Harris at the Women's International Center
- Marcelite J. Harris at the United States Air Force Academy
Individual evidence
- ↑ Harris, first African-American woman to serve as Major General, to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery Houston Chronicle , accessed December 20, 2018
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Harris, Marcelite J. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Harris, Marcelite Jordan (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | United States military personnel |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 16, 1943 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Houston , Texas |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 7, 2018 |