Unstoppable Force

You were part of the fourth freshman class of female cadets when you enrolled in 1977. But you didn’t initially fall in love with the Corps.

You bet I didn’t. I was leaving home to get more freedom—and I had even less freedom! I was told what time to get up, what time to eat and what time to sleep. I tried to figure out how I could keep my scholarship, go to Texas A&M and not be in the Corps—but that was not an option.

At the time, there was one female outfit, W-1, and it was only me and two other Black females who came in as freshmen together. Texas A&M wasn’t very diverse at the time, so that coupled with the fact that most of the male cadets didn’t want women there was intimidating. It was challenging, but looking back, my Corps experience gave me a foundation for decision-making, leadership, strength and endurance—especially as a first sergeant and squadron commander during my junior and senior years. For me, being one of the “first” in the Corps is not about me; it’s about being grateful for the opportunity I had to pave the way for others.

How did you spend your career?

My passion was resource management, so I spent 28 years focused on money and manpower issues in the Air Force’s Medical Service Corps. The final unit I was assigned to was responsible for the education and training of all Air Force medical personnel in all career fields, and I served as an advisor and mentor to junior officers in my career field.

What did the military teach you?

The biggest lesson was about strength—how to take your licks and endure it! You figured out how to cope with tough times and move forward.

 

You were stationed in Washington, D.C., on 9/11. How did that time unfold for you?

I was put in charge of an emergency operations center designed to report the status of any victims at the Pentagon to the White House. Because of our work, we were invited to the National Prayer Service held at the National Cathedral. It was surreal because we sat 10 or so rows behind all the living presidents, and a television camera boom was right above me. When the service ended, my cell phone started blowing up because the camera had zoomed in on me a few times. To this day, people still say, “I saw you on TV.”

What’s it been like watching your daughter follow in your footsteps as a cadet and Air Force officer?

My kids were all military brats, and my husband had them make their beds with military corners by age 2! They were constantly being moved around. I had no inkling that any of them would choose a life in the military because of how disruptive it was to their lives, but if any of the three were going to do that, it would be my middle daughter, Brawnlyn ’13. We’ve been absolutely thrilled about her career. She’s now an intelligence officer and was promoted to the rank of major early.

What motivates you now that you’re retired?

Doing work that makes a difference in the community. I’m active in my church in San Antonio and enjoy helping people try to become the best version of themselves.