Marcelite J. Harris

Maj. Gen Marcelite J. Harris
U.S. Air Force Photo
Born	(1943-01-16) January 16, 1943 Houston, Texas
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1965–1997
Rank	Major General
Unit	United States Air Force Academy
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal Meritorious Service Medal (4) Air Force Commendation Medal (2) National Defense Service Medal (2) Vietnam Service Medal (3) Vietnam Campaign Medal

Major General Marcelite J. Harris (born January 16, 1943, Houston, Texas) became the first African-American female general officer of the United States Air Force. She was born Marcelite Jordan to Cecil O'Neal Jordan and Marcelite Terrill Jordan, Sr.

Education and early career

Marcelite Jordan graduated from Spelman College, earning her B.A. in speech and drama in 1964. She was commissioned through Officer Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in 1965 and held a variety of assignments in the Air Force. Marcelite Harris’s career included many “firsts”, as she was 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. 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, Harris 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. Harris is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Current work

Major General Harris is now Treasurer of the Atlanta Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and serves as a Director on the Board of Peachtree Hope Charter School. Also, as of September 15, 2010, General Harris was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as a member of the Board of Visitors for the United States Air Force Academy. 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. The Board meets at least four times per year, with at least two of those meetings at the Academy. The Board prepares semi-annual reports containing its views and recommendations pertaining to the Academy. Each written report is submitted concurrently to the Secretary of Defense, through the Secretary of the Air Force, and to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.

Personal

Gen. Harris was married to Maurice A. Harris (deceased). They have three adult children; a son, Steven, and daughters, Tenecia and Sherri.

Awards and decorations

Master Maintenance Badge

Personal decorations
	Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Bronze Star Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Unit awards
	Presidential Unit Citation
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device; silver, and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Second ribbon required for proper spacing of accoutrements
	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with bronze oak leaf cluster
Campaign and service medals
	National Defense Service Medal with bronze Service star
	Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze campaign stars
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
	Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Training Ribbon
Foreign awards
	Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award
	Vietnam Campaign Medal

Other achievements

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

2010 - "Trailblazer Award," Black Girls Rock Foundation

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions

Insignia	Rank	Date
	Major General	May 25, 1995
	Brigadier General	May 1, 1991
	Colonel	September 1, 1986
	Lieutenant Colonel	October 1, 1981
	Major	April 1, 1975
	Captain	December 21, 1969
	First Lieutenant	January 21, 1967
	Second Lieutenant	December 21, 1965

References

"Major General Marcelite J. Harris", URL accessed 08/21/06

Maj. Gen. Harris's career biography at Air Force (af.mil) website, accessed 6/12/2010

USAFA Board of Visitors, accessed 2/5/2011

U.S. Key Administration, accessed 2/5/2011