Marcelite J. Harris
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Marcelite Cecile Jordan Harris (January 16, 1943 – September 7, 2018) was an American who became the first African-American female general officer of the United States Air Force.
Education and early career
Marcelite Cecile Jordan Harris was born on January 16, 1943 in Houston, Texas, United States, to Cecil O’Neal Jordan and Marcelite Elizabeth (Terrell) Jordan.[1] She graduated from Spelman College, earning her B.A. in speech and drama and completed Officer Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in 1965 and held a variety of assignments in the Air Force.
Harris's career included many "firsts", including being the first female aircraft maintenance officer, one of the first two female air officers commanding at the United States Air Force Academy, and the Air Force's first female Director of Maintenance.[2] She served as a White House social aide during the Carter administration. Her service medals and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Vietnam Service Medal. Harris retired as a major general in 1997, the highest ranking female officer in the Air Force and the Nation's highest ranking African-American woman in the Department of Defense. Upon retirement from the Air Force, she served NASA as the Florida Site Director and Logistics Process Owner for United Space Alliance, the company managing the nation's shuttle program. Besides her Spelman B.A., she holds a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Maryland University College. In 1999, Harris was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Spelman College. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Later career
Harris was a Treasurer of the Atlanta Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and served as a Director on the Board of Peachtree Hope Charter School. On September 15, 2010, she was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as a member of the Board of Visitors for the United States Air Force Academy.[3] The Board inquires into the morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other matters relating to the academy which the Board decides to consider.
Personal
Harris was married to Lt. Col. Maurice Harris. They had two children named Steven and Tenecia.[4] She was buried with full military honors on February 7, 2019, alongside her husband in Arlington National Cemetery.[5]
Awards and decorations
| File:USAF - Master Maintenance Badge.png | Master Maintenance Badge |
Other achievements
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- 1990 - Woman of the Year, National Organization of Tuskegee Airmen, also listed in "Who's Who Among Black Americans", "Who's Who in America and "Who's Who Among American Business Women"
- 1990 - Outstanding Young Woman of America
- 1991 - Most Prestigious Individual, Dollars and Sense Magazine
- 1992 - Woman of Enterprise, Journal Recording Publishing Co., Oklahoma City
- 1995 - "Women of Distinction" Award, Thomas W. Anthony Chapter, Air Force Association
- 1995 - "Military African American Woman" for contributions to the Department of Defense, National Political Congress of Black Women, Inc.
- 1995 - "Black Woman of Courage," National Federation of Black Women Business Owners
- 1996 - Ellis Island Medal of Honor[6]
- 2010 - "Trailblazer Award," Black Girls Rock Foundation
Effective dates of promotion
| Insignia | Rank | Date |
|---|---|---|
| File:US-O8 insignia.svg | Major General | May 25, 1995 |
| File:US-O7 insignia.svg | Brigadier General | May 1, 1991 |
| File:US-O6 insignia.svg | Colonel | September 1, 1986 |
| File:US-O5 insignia.svg | Lieutenant Colonel | October 1, 1981 |
| File:US-O4 insignia.svg | Major | April 1, 1975 |
| File:US-O3 insignia.svg | Captain | December 21, 1969 |
| File:US-OF1A.svg | First Lieutenant | January 21, 1967 |
| File:US-OF1B.svg | Second Lieutenant | December 21, 1965 |
References
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- ↑ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts", The White House, September 15, 2010; accessed February 5, 2011.
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External links
- "Major General Marcelite J. Harris", Women's International Center; accessed August 21, 2006
- Maj. Gen. Harris's career biography at US Air Force website
- USAFA Board of Visitors, accessed 2/5/2011
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with broken file links
- 1943 births
- 2018 deaths
- African-American female military personnel
- United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War
- American female military personnel of the Vietnam War
- Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
- Female generals of the United States Air Force
- Spelman College alumni
- Military personnel from Houston
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Delta Sigma Theta members
- African-American women aviators
- American women aviators
- African-American aviators
- Aviators from Texas
- African-American United States Air Force personnel