Jeanne M. Holm
Jeanne M. Holm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Service |  United States Air Force United States Army Air Force |
| Years of service | 1942 - 1946 1948 - 1975 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles / wars | Berlin Airlift |
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Major General Jeanne M. Holm was director of the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council. In this position, she assures proper administration of the council and functioning of its boards and serves as president of the boards: the Air Force Discharge Review Board, Personnel Board, Board of Review, Physical Disability Appeal Board, Decorations Board and the Disability Review Board. She takes final action for the secretary of the Air Force on the majority of matters referred to the council; advises the secretary, chief of staff, and directorates of the Deputy Chief of Staff and Personnel of personnel trends and recommends policy action when appropriate.
Holm was born in 1921, in Portland, Oregon. She enlisted in the Army in July 1942, soon after the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was established by Congress. She attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and in January 1943, received a commission as a "Third Officer," the WAAC equivalent of Second Lieutenant.
During World War II, Holm was assigned to the Women's Army Corps Training Center at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, where she first commanded a basic training company and then a training regiment. At the end of the war, she commanded the 106th WAC Hospital Company at Newton D. Baker General Hospital, West Virginia. She then left active military duty in 1946 and attended Lewis and Clark College for two years, returning in 1956 for her Bachelor of Arts degree.
In October 1948, during the Berlin Blockade, Holm was recalled to active duty with the Army and went to Camp Lee in Virginia, as a company commander. The following year she transferred to the Air Force and was sent to Erding Air Depot, Germany. There she served as assistant director of plans and operations for the 7200th Air Force Depot Wing, and later was War Plans Officer for the 85th Air Depot Wing, during the Berlin airlift and the early phases of the Korean War.
Holm returned from overseas in 1952 and became the first woman to attend the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. She was then assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, DC, as a personnel plans and programs officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel.
Her next assignment was as chief of manpower in Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters, in Naples, Italy, where she served for four years. She returned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in 1961 and was assigned as congressional staff officer for the director of manpower and organization. For her work in this assignment, she was awarded the Legion of Merit.
Holm was appointed director, Women in the Air Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, in November 1965. Her appointment was extended twice. She was responsible for overall staff cognizance of and advice on matters concerning military women in the Air Force. During her tenure, policies affecting women were updated, Women in the Air Force (WAF) strength more than doubled, job and assignment opportunities greatly expanded, and uniforms modernized. She has been an active proponent for expanding the opportunities for women to serve in the Armed Forces and a catalyst for changing their roles and career opportunities within the Air Force. For her exceptionally meritorious service in this assignment, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
On March 1,1973, Holm was appointed director of the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council.
She is a member of the Board of Trustees, Air Force Historical Foundation; member of the Board of Directors of Camp Fire Girls; member of Board of Directors of the Pentagon Federal Credit Union; and member of the Air Force Association. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Lewis and Clark College in 1968; Citation of Honor from the Air Force Association in 1971; and the Eugene Zuckert Leadership Award from the Arnold Air Society in 1972. General Holm is an accomplished snow and water skier, student of ancient history, scuba diver and skipper of her own power cruiser. Prior to entering military service, she was a professional silversmith.
She was promoted to the grade of brigadier general July 16,[[1971], the first woman to be appointed in this grade in the Air Force. She was promoted to the grade of major general effective June 1,1973, with date of rank July 1,1970, and is the first woman in the Armed Forces to serve in that grade.
(Taken from U.S. Air Force Biography) [1]