Army appoints first openly gay general
On Friday, General Tammy Smith was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in a ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery. Smith is the deputy chief in the Army Reserve Office in Washington, D.C.
According to CNN, Smith has been in the Army for 26 years and has served in Afghanistan, Panama, and Costa Rica.
The military newspaper, Stars and Stripes, reports that Smith is not the first gay general officer. But, she is the first to be openly gay and hold the position.
Smith reportedly downplayed her role in making military history and was quoted in Stars and Stripes as saying, “What is relevant is upholding Army values and the responsibility this carries.”
The promotion makes Smith the highest ranked gay military figure. The ban on openly gay service members ended in September 2011.
Smith is married to Tracey Hepner, the director of operations for the Military Partners and Families Coalition, which is a support organization for LGBT members of the military.
