Marcia Anderson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marcia Anderson
Anderson at Fort Bragg in 2014
Born	1957 (age 67–68) Beloit, Wisconsin
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1976–2016
Rank	Major General
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Army Commendation Medal Achievement Medal

Marcia Anderson (born in 1957) is a retired officer who made history in the United States Army Reserve. She was the very first African-American woman to earn the high rank of major general. A major general is a very senior leader in the Army, often in charge of thousands of soldiers.

Early Life and Education

Marcia Anderson was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, and later went to school in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father was also in the military, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

Anderson went to Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. She joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program because she needed a science class credit. ROTC is a college program that trains students to become officers in the military. After graduating in 1979, she became an officer in the U.S. Army.

Later, she also earned a law degree from Rutgers School of Law–Newark in 1986 and graduated from the United States Army War College in 2003.

A Trailblazing Career

Anderson speaking at an event in 2018.

Marcia Anderson had two successful careers at the same time. She served in the United States Army Reserve while also working a civilian job. In her civilian life, she was the Clerk of Court for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

Making History in the Army

In 2011, Anderson achieved a major milestone. She was promoted to the rank of major general. This made her the first African-American woman to become a major general in the entire history of the US Army, US Army Reserve, and the US Army National Guard.

She retired from the Army Reserve in 2016 after 40 years of service.

Life After Retirement

After retiring from the Army, Anderson also retired from her court job in 2019. She has continued to be recognized for her leadership. She received the Maj. Gen. James Earl Rudder Medal and was added to the Army Women's Foundation Hall of Fame.

Since 2021, she has been a member of the Green Bay Packers Executive Committee, a leadership group for the famous football team. In 2024, she was given the special honor of being the ship sponsor for the USS Beloit, a new U.S. Navy ship.

Personal Life

Anderson lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Amos Charles Anderson. Her uncle, Joseph A. Brown, was a Jesuit priest and the head of the Africana studies department at Southern Illinois University. Anderson is a member of the Catholic faith.

Military Awards

During her long career, Anderson earned many awards for her service. These include:

• Army Distinguished Service Medal
• Legion of Merit (with two oak leaf clusters, showing she received it three times)
• Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters)
• Army Commendation Medal
• Army Achievement Medal
• Parachutist Badge (for completing parachute training)
• Physical Fitness Badge