U.S. Army Promotes First African-American Woman to Two-Star General

The U.S. Army promoted Marcia Anderson to a major general at Fort Knox on Thursday. It makes Anderson the highest ranking African-American woman in the Army and also marks the first time the Army has promoted an African-American woman to the rank of two-star general. Anderson’s goal when she entered the service in 1979 was to complete eight years of service, she said.“But I reached a point where I realized I enjoy doing this. But then I still thought that I would retire after 20 years which is about hitting lieutenant colonel rank and I was very happy at that as well because I basically thought that was a great rank. You command at that level,” said Anderson.She said she can earn up to four stars, but said she’s happy with two for now. “I don’t have any aspirations to be a three star general. I’m just really happy doing what I’m doing right now and look forward to my first opportunity serving at this rank,” she said.Anderson will leave her post at Fort Knox and return home to Wisconsin on Sunday. In October she’ll answer to the Pentagon as a two-star general.Her current position is deputy commanding general of the Human Resources Command.