Margaret H. Woodward

Margaret Woodward
Margaret Woodward
Born	1960 (age 63–64)
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1982–2014
Rank	Major General
Commands held	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

Last updated May 16, 2024

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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3] She left the region when she was about ten years old.^[3]

Career

In 1982, Woodward graduated from the Arizona State University and joined the U.S. Air Force the year after.^[1]^[3] For most of her career she flew aerial refueling aircraft such as the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker,^[3] 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.^[1] 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.^[1]^[3]

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.^[1]^[3] As such, she was the operational commander for the U.S. involvement in the 2011 military intervention in Libya, dubbed Operation Odyssey Dawn,^[3] 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 ^[1]
1995: Air Command and Staff College, Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base ^[1]
1997: Master's degree in aviation science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.^[1]
2001: Master's degree in national security strategy, National War College in Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. ^[1]

Awards and decorations

	US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
	Headquarters Air Force Badge

	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
	Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
	Bronze Star Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster
	Combat Readiness Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Kosovo Campaign Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Training Ribbon

Promotions

List of promotions Woodward has received during her career:^[1]

Promotions
Major General	2011
Brigadier General	2008
Colonel	2002
Lieutenant Colonel	1998
Major	1994
Captain	1986
First Lieutenant	1984
Second Lieutenant	1982

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "MAJOR GENERAL MARGARET H. WOODWARD". US Air Force. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
↑ "Woodward First Woman to Command U.S. Air Attack in Libya 'No-Fly' Mission". Bloomberg. 29 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Thompson, Mark (April 2011). "Air Boss". Time Magazine (April 18): 28.

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)

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[usaf-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "MAJOR GENERAL MARGARET H. WOODWARD". US Air Force. Retrieved 25 June 2014.

[2] "Woodward First Woman to Command U.S. Air Attack in Libya 'No-Fly' Mission". Bloomberg. 29 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.

[time-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Thompson, Mark (April 2011). "Air Boss". Time Magazine (April 18): 28.

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