Margaret Woodward | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 1960 (age 64–65) |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1982–2014 |
| Rank |  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 andmajor general in theUnited States Air Force.
As commander of the17th 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 theUS contribution to theno-fly zone over Libya, sanctioned by theUnited Nations, making her the first woman to oversee a U.S. combat air campaign.[2]
She retired on April 1, 2014.
Woodward was born in 1960 and grew up in India and Pakistan, where her father worked for theUnited States Agency for International Development.[3] She left the region when she was about ten years old.[3]
In 1982, Woodward graduated from theArizona State University and joined the U.S. Air Force the year after.[1][3] For most of her career she flewaerial refueling aircraft such as theBoeing KC-135 Stratotanker,[3] though she also has experience in theBoeing C-40 Clipper, the C-37 military version of theGulfstream G550, and theT-37 andT-38 trainers.[1] She was involved theU.S. invasion of Panama,Operation Allied Force, OperationsNorthern andSouthern Watch,Operation Enduring Freedom and missions during theIraq War.[1][3]
In 2007, she became commander of the89th Airlift Wing, which includes responsibility forAir Force One, and in June 2010 became commander of theSeventeenth Air Force, the U.S. Air Force branch of theUnited States Africa Command.[1][3] As such, she was the operational commander for the U.S. involvement in the2011 military intervention in Libya, dubbedOperation 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:
 | US Air Force Command Pilot Badge |
 | Headquarters Air Force Badge |
 | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal |
  | Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronzeoak 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 bronzeservice 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 |
List of promotions Woodward has received during her career:[1]
| Major General | 2011 |
 Brigadier General | 2008 |
 Colonel | 2002 |
 Lieutenant Colonel | 1998 |
 Major | 1994 |
 Captain | 1986 |
 First Lieutenant | 1984 |
 Second Lieutenant | 1982 |
