Pat Foote
Encyclopedia
Pat Foote is a retired US Army Brigadier General
. She served from 1959 to 1989, rising to the rank of brigadier general in 1986, and holds many firsts for women in the U.S. Army.
on 19 May 1930. Her parents, Evelyn Sidena Womack Foote and Henry Alexander Foote senior, both worked for the American Tobacco Company
while Foote was a child. In 1945, the Foote family moved to Washington, D.C., and Pat Foote graduated from Central High School in 1947. She attended Wake Forest University
, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology
in 1953. Foote also holds a Masters of Science degree in Public Administration
and Government from Shippensburg University, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Wake Forest University. She is also a 1980 graduate of the Executive Program of the University of Virginia
and a 1985 graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership. Her military education includes completion of the Women's Army Corps Officer Basic Course, the Adjutant General Corps Officer Advanced Course, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.
, Virginia. Immediately prior, she was Deputy Inspector General (Inspections), Department of the Army. Other key assignments include command of the 2d Basic Training Battalion, United States Army Military Police School and Training Center, Fort McClellan
, Alabama; service as Director of Personnel Management Systems, Department of Command and Management, the United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks
, Pennsylvania; and Commander, 42d Military Police Group
, United States Army, Europe and Seventh Army.
General Foote's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal
, the Legion of Merit
(with Oak Leaf Cluster
), the Bronze Star Medal
, the Meritorious Service Medal
(with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster) and the Army General Staff Identification Badge. The German government awarded her the Bundesverdienstkreuz
, Erste Klasse, for her service as Command of the 42 Military Police Group, 1983-85.
From 1998 to 2007, she served as president of the Alliance for National Defense, a non-profit organization that supports women in the military. She remains an active spokesperson for the Army and other organizations concerning the role of women in the military services.
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
. She served from 1959 to 1989, rising to the rank of brigadier general in 1986, and holds many firsts for women in the U.S. Army.
Early life and education
Brigadier General Evelyn Patricia "Pat" Foote was born in Durham, North CarolinaDurham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
on 19 May 1930. Her parents, Evelyn Sidena Womack Foote and Henry Alexander Foote senior, both worked for the American Tobacco Company
American Tobacco Company
The American Tobacco Company was a tobacco company founded in 1890 by J. B. Duke through a merger between a number of U.S. tobacco manufacturers including Allen and Ginter and Goodwin & Company...
while Foote was a child. In 1945, the Foote family moved to Washington, D.C., and Pat Foote graduated from Central High School in 1947. She attended Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in 1953. Foote also holds a Masters of Science degree in Public Administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
and Government from Shippensburg University, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Wake Forest University. She is also a 1980 graduate of the Executive Program of the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and a 1985 graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership. Her military education includes completion of the Women's Army Corps Officer Basic Course, the Adjutant General Corps Officer Advanced Course, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.
Command and Staff Positions
She held a variety of command and staff positions culminating in her assignment as Commanding General of Fort BelvoirFort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir is a United States Army installation and a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Originally, it was the site of the Belvoir plantation. Today, Fort Belvoir is home to a number of important United States military organizations...
, Virginia. Immediately prior, she was Deputy Inspector General (Inspections), Department of the Army. Other key assignments include command of the 2d Basic Training Battalion, United States Army Military Police School and Training Center, Fort McClellan
Fort McClellan
Fort McClellan, originally Camp McClellan, was a United States Army post located adjacent to the city of Anniston, Alabama. During World War II, it was one of the largest U.S. Army installations, training an estimated half-million troops...
, Alabama; service as Director of Personnel Management Systems, Department of Command and Management, the United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks
Carlisle Barracks
Carlisle Barracks is a United States Army facility located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It is part of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and is the site of the U.S. Army War College...
, Pennsylvania; and Commander, 42d Military Police Group
42nd Military Police Brigade (United States)
The 42nd Military Police Brigade is a military police brigade of the United States Army based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It is a subordinate unit of I Corps....
, United States Army, Europe and Seventh Army.
Key Assignments
In other key assignments, General Foote served with the Information Office at Headquarters, United States Army, Vietnam in 1967 and upon return to the United States, assumed the duties of Executive Officer, Women's Army Corps Branch with the Officer Personnel Directorate, Office of Personnel Operations. She was the Plans and Programs Officer with the Office of the Director, Women's Army Corps, during the transition to the all-volunteer force and the early years of the greatly increased utilization of women within the Army. Following this, she served as the final WAC Staff Adviser to the Commanding General of the United States Army Forces Command and as Executive Officer of that command's Human Resources Directorate.Achievements, Awards and Decorations
General Foote had many notable achievements during her career. She was the first female public relations officer in Vietnam in 1967 and the first female faculty member appointed to the U.S. Army War School in 1979. General Foote was also the first female brigade commander in Europe and the first female Inspector General in the Army in 1986. When Foote was promoted to Brigadier General in 1986, she became one of only four female generals in the U.S. Army. She was also the first female commander of Fort Belvoir, Virginia.General Foote's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(with Oak Leaf Cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
), the Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, the Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
(with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster) and the Army General Staff Identification Badge. The German government awarded her the Bundesverdienstkreuz
Bundesverdienstkreuz
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
, Erste Klasse, for her service as Command of the 42 Military Police Group, 1983-85.
1st Retirement and Recall
General Foote retired from active duty on September 1, 1989. In December 1996, she was recalled to active duty to serve as Vice Chair of the Secretary of the Army's Senior Review Panel on Sexual Harassment.2nd Retirement Activity
On October 1, 1997, General Foote returned to retired status and served as a Consultant to the Office of the Secretary of the Army through July 1998, briefing military leaders and various organizations concerning the Senior Review Panel's report, its findings and its recommendations.From 1998 to 2007, she served as president of the Alliance for National Defense, a non-profit organization that supports women in the military. She remains an active spokesperson for the Army and other organizations concerning the role of women in the military services.