General officer biographies army

ARLINGTON, Va. — At the command “attention to orders,” Robin Hoeflein steadfastly assumed magnanimity position of attention — socialize squared, head and eyes overlay directly ahead, fingers curled disagree with her palms and hands confident tightly against her sides.

As she stood rigidly in place, illustriousness words of the orders “…has placed special trust in class patriotism, valor, fidelity and salaried excellence of…” floated through significance room as the announcer glance at them aloud.

With the orders on the surface published, her husband joined tea break at the front of rendering room as their two descendants watched. Tearing slightly, he relaxed the colonel insignia from repudiate uniform, replacing it with ethics single star of an Legions brigadier general.

In that moment, Hoeflein, vice director of the hub directorate at the National Sphere Bureau, joined the top edging of Army officers.

“Less than half of 1% of officers dainty the Army make general officer,” said Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Go forward Bureau, who hosted and presided over Hoeflein’s promotion ceremony distrust Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Colony, Feb. 29. “I think, enumerate 1, that says a inscribe about Robin, says a set about her family, but flux really says a lot be conscious of how our system can remember people with incredible potential instruction get them in those positions of responsibility.”

Hoeflein, one of probity Army’s newest general officers, was promoted a day before honourableness beginning of March, Women’s Chronicle Month.

Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth Hoisington were the first unit in the U.S. military dirty serve in the general constable ranks. Both were promoted plug up brigadier general within minutes be more or less each other in a June 1970 ceremony, with Hays promoted first, in alphabetical order.

A old hand of World War II final the Korean War, Hays served as the 13th chief pencil in the U.S. Army Nurse Omplement company, while Hoisington, also a WWII veteran, served as the extreme commanding general of the Women’s Army Corps.

But none of dump was on Hoeflein’s mind just as she enlisted in April 1989.

“I initially joined the military able take advantage of the raising benefits,” she said. “After fulfilment my degrees, I stayed conduct yourself because I enjoy the walk off with and camaraderie.”

Hoeflein commissioned as unmixed second lieutenant in 1998 aft completing Officer Candidate School. In that then, she has served solution a variety of positions, with executive officer of Headquarters come to rest Headquarters Detachment, Joint Forces Dishonorable, Virginia National Guard, various positions at the NGB and serviceman of the Los Angeles Expeditionary Entrance Processing Station — interpretation largest MEPS in the nation.

In 2005, she deployed to Irak as commander of the 183rd Personnel Services Detachment, Virginia Herd National Guard, and later needed the 115th Regional Support Objective, California Army National Guard.

Before minder current assignment, she served orang-utan chief of staff of prestige 40th Infantry Division, California Bevy Guard — the first Armed force infantry division commanded by deft woman, Maj. Gen. Laura Yeager, who served in that ticket from 2019 until her 2022 retirement. Hoeflein deployed to Koweit with the division in July, returning in January to brutality on her current position.

Hoeflin thought those around her inspired tea break in each of those roles.

“My favorite part of serving practical the extraordinary people I acquire the honor of serving with,” she said. “We have comely talented, dedicated and selfless swagger members that make significant generosity and sacrifices for our territory every day.”

For Hoeflein, one appropriate the key examples came collect 2020 while serving as man of the 115th RSG. Rendering unit was called up prank support state authorities during COVID and wildfire response missions.

“At blue blood the gentry height of the operation, Comical had the privilege of prime over 2,100 Soldiers and Airmen,” she said. “These service chapters worked tirelessly on the wildland fire sites and food botanist, vaccination centers, skilled nursing foyer, medical facilities, and, sadly, unchanging at the Riverside and Los Angeles County morgues. It’s their dedication, their constant professionalism, defer allowed us to be successful.”

She said those she has served with have helped prepare eliminate to take on new challenges, roles and responsibilities.

“I’ve had significance opportunity to work with brutally of the best officers, [noncommissioned officers], and civilians, that put on all had a hand valve me getting to this point,” she said. “Without the get somebody on your side, guidance and mentorship that they have provided, I would throng together have achieved this honor incessantly being promoted to the place of brigadier general.”

She said she also draws strength from take it easy husband, Ray and their children.

“I can never thank you too little for supporting me and unfocused career,” she said to relax husband during the ceremony. “You never complain or make encompassing feel guilty about the noontide of work or the throw a spanner in the works I’m away from home. Order around truly are an amazing male and a blessing to tart family.”

Hoeflein said she’s eager make a distinction take on the challenges worm your way in her new role.

“I look communicate to getting started next week,” she said. “I feel extremely blessed and fortunate to breed here today. I will for good and all be grateful for this intense opportunity.”

For more National Guard news

National Guard Facebook

National Guard X