For the American college president, seeMary Jane Saunders. For the American portrait painter and art teacher, seeMary Ann Xantippe Saunders.
Mary L. Saunders (born November 7, 1947)[1] is a retired Major General from theUnited States Air Force. She was named to theTexas Women's Hall of Fame in 2012.
She was born inNacogdoches, Texas and grew up inHouston. Saunders began her career at the Officer Training School atLackland Air Force Base in Texas; she received her commission as a second lieutenant and began service in 1971. She earned aBSc in social work fromTexas Woman's University and anMA in guidance and counselling fromRider College. Saunders attended Squadron Officer School and Air War College atMaxwell Air Force Base and the National Security Leadership Course atJohns Hopkins University.[2]
She has been awarded several major decorations, including theDistinguished Service Medal, theMeritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, theJoint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, theNational Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars and theKorea Defense Service Medal.[2] She was the first female officer to serve as Director of Transportation for the United States Air Force. Each year three Distinguished Service Chapter awards and the Excellence in Leadership Award scholarship are presented in her name.[3]
After she retired from the Air Force in October 2005,[2] she was named executive director for the Texas Woman’s University Leadership Institute; Texas Woman’s University also named her a Distinguished Alumni and a Woman of Distinction. In 2010, the Texas governor gave her theYellow Rose of Texas Award.[3]