Female General: Ability, Confidence Propel Career
Dan ElliottKSWT.com (AP Wire)
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) - The first woman to lead the Air Force Academy says she faced resistance and sexual harassment in her career, but competence and confidence helped her push through the ranks to one of the top jobs in the service.
Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson said in an interview Tuesday she isn't surprised that 32 years passed between her graduation from the academy in 1981 - in the second class to include women - and her appointment as its first female superintendent.
"It takes 32 years to make a lieutenant general," she said referring to the experience and training it takes to reach the three-star rank required for the superintendent's job.
She became superintendent on Aug. 12 at a time the military is under increasing pressure from Congress and the president to prevent sexual assaults.
The Pentagon estimated in May that up to 26,000 military members may have been sexually assaulted last year. A series of sexual assault scandals made clear how serious the problem is, including allegations of misconduct against officers who led sexual assault prevention programs and a commander overturning a sexual assault conviction.
Johnson acknowledged she suffered sexual harassment but didn't provide specifics.
"It's not been a systematic thing," she said. Her response was along the lines of "Knock it off," she said.
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