Margaret H. Woodward

Margaret Woodward
File:Margaret H. Woodward (3).jpg
Born	1960 (age 64–65)
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1982–2014
Rank	File:US-O8 insignia.svg Major General
Commands	17th Air Force 89th Airlift Wing
Battles / wars	Invasion of Panama Operation Allied Force Operation Northern Watch Operation Southern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War Operation Odyssey Dawn

Margaret H. Woodward (born 1960) is an American former military officer and major general in the United States Air Force. As commander of the 17th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, she was responsible for all US air actions that involved Africa. In March 2011, she commanded the air component of the US contribution to the no-fly zone over Libya, sanctioned by the United Nations, making her the first woman to oversee a U.S. combat air campaign. She retired on April 1, 2014.

Early life and education

Woodward was born in 1960 and grew up in India and Pakistan, where her father worked for the United States Agency for International Development. She left the region when she was about ten years old.

Career

In 1982, Woodward graduated from the Arizona State University and joined the U.S. Air Force the year after. For most of her career she flew aerial refueling aircraft such as the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, though she also has experience in the Boeing C-40 Clipper, the C-37 military version of the Gulfstream G550, and the T-37 and T-38 trainers. She was involved the U.S. invasion of Panama, Operation Allied Force, Operations Northern and Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom and missions during the Iraq War. In 2007, she became commander of the 89th Airlift Wing, which includes responsibility for Air Force One, and in June 2010 became commander of the Seventeenth Air Force, the U.S. Air Force branch of the United States Africa Command. As such, she was the operational commander for the U.S. involvement in the 2011 military intervention in Libya, dubbed Operation Odyssey Dawn, before command of the whole operation was transferred to NATO. After handing over command of Seventeenth Air Force, she was posted Stateside. Her Air Force official profile lists her appointments since as:

• May 2012 - September 2012, Acting Director, Operational Planning, Policy & Strategy, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
• September 2012 - June 2013, Air Force Chief of Safety, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and Commander, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
• June 2013 - mid 2014, Director, Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. Retired mid 2014.

Education

• 1982: Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering at the Arizona State University, Tempe
• 1995: Air Command and Staff College, Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base
• 1997: Master's degree in aviation science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
• 2001: Master's degree in national security strategy, National War College in Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

Awards and decorations

File:COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png	US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
File:Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png	Headquarters Air Force Badge

File:Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster File:US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg	Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster Bronze oak leaf cluster Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges	Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
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
Bronze oak leaf cluster Bronze oak leaf cluster Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.	Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
File:Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg	Air Force Commendation Medal
File:Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Silver oak leaf cluster File:Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster
File:Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg	Combat Readiness Medal
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 one bronze service star
Bronze star File:AFEMRib.svg	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
File:KosovoRib.svg	Kosovo Campaign Medal
File:Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
File:Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Silver oak leaf cluster Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg	Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
File:USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
File:Air Force Training Ribbon.svg	Air Force Training Ribbon

Promotions

List of promotions Woodward has received during her career:

Promotions

File:US-O8 insignia.svgMajor General	2011
File:US-O7 insignia.svgBrigadier General	2008
File:US-O6 insignia.svgColonel	2002
File:US-O5 insignia.svgLieutenant Colonel	1998
File:US-O4 insignia.svgMajor	1994
File:US-O3 insignia.svgCaptain	1986
File:US-OF1A.svgFirst Lieutenant	1984
File:US-OF1B.svgSecond Lieutenant	1982

See also

• List of female United States military generals and flag officers

External links

• US hands command of Libya air strategy to senior female officer (The Guardian)
• The new face of war: A female general commands the U.S. air campaign. (The Best Defense | Foreign Policy)
• Photo from Reuters Pictures (daylife.com)