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Female general nominated for 3rd star

Maj. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger has been nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as vice commander of Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, the Defense Department announced Monday.

If confirmed by the Senate, Wolfenbarger will become the Air Force’s most senior female officer. Lt. Gen. Terry Gabreski currently holds the distinction but is scheduled to officially retire Jan. 1 as vice commander of Air Force Materiel Command.

Right now, Wolfenbarger is the director of intelligence and requirements at Materiel Command. She leads the directorate that develops technology and materiel solutions, and provides science and technology intelligence to the command’s senior staff members, according to the Air Force.

Wolfenbarger entered the Air Force Academy with the first class of women in 1976 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1980, according to her official biography.

The general began her career in acquisition as an engineer at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Besides assignments at Electronic Security Command and Air Force Systems Command, Wolfenbarger has held several positions in the F-22 System Program Office at Wright-Patterson, has served as the F-22 Lead Program Element Monitor at the Pentagon and was the B-2 System Program Director for the Aeronautical Systems Center. She also has commanded the ASC’s C-17 Systems Group, Mobility Systems Wing, and was director of the Air Force Acquisition Center of Excellence.

Wolfenbarger has two master of science degrees — one in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., and one in national resource strategy from National Defense University at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C.

Among Wolfenbarger’s awards and decorations: Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal and Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with silver oak leaf cluster.

Wolfenbarger was promoted June 26 to major general.