Gay AF colonel invited to Obama address tonight - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Gay AF colonel invited to Obama address tonight

When don’t ask, don’t tell was repealed on Sept. 20, Col. Ginger Wallace thought it would mean she’d finally get to recognize the silent sacrifice of her partner in front of her colleagues and military friends.

The intelligence officer never dreamed it would get her an invitation to sit with first lady Michelle Obama at President Obama’s State-of-the-Union address at the Capitol.

But that’s where she’ll be tonight. And her partner of more than a decade, Kathy Knopf, will be watching from the White House.

In December, Knopf got to participate in Wallace’s promotion ceremony, which apparently was the first reporting of such an event following the repeal of the policy that kept gay and lesbian military members from serving openly.

Wallace, who is currently prepping for a deployment to Afghanistan this spring, said she and Knopf are honored to represent the men and women who currently serve and also those who have served but were forced out under the previous rules and their families.

“We’re just honored and humbled really to represent all of the exceptional people who serve … and how far we’ve come,” she said.

In addition to Wallace, four other people either active or retired from the military or married to a service member will also sit with Michelle Obama at tonight’s address:

• Sgt. Ashleigh Berg is from Malibu, Calif., and joined the Army in July 2004. Berg has been stationed in South Korea and Germany, and has served two tours of duty in Iraq. Her husband, Sgt. Matthew Berg is currently deployed to Afghanistan on his third combat tour. Berg is currently assigned to the 94th Army Missile Defense Command in Fort Shafter Hawaii, and is serving a three year tour as the commanding general’s executive administrative assistant.

• Adrienne Howard is a military spouse from Lynchburg, Va., and currently lives in San Diego with her three children. Her husband, Navy Cmdr. Colby Howard, is currently on a seven month deployment. Howard has moved 14 times during her husband’s career, and their oldest child has attended nine different schools along the way. For nearly 20 years, she has been heavily involved as a volunteer in family readiness groups and Navy spouse organizations. Last September, Howard was inspired by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative to reach out to her community. Howard shared her story of rallying her community to “adopt” a sailor on the Joining Forces Blog.

• Retired Navy Capt. Mark Kelly is an astronaut, best-selling author and an experienced naval aviator who flew combat missions during the Persian Gulf War. The winner of many awards, including the Legion of Merit, two Defense Superior Service Medals and two Distinguished Flying Crosses, Kelly was selected as an astronaut in 1996. He flew his first of four missions in 2001 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, the same space shuttle that he commanded on its final flight in May 2011. He has also commanded Space Shuttle Discovery and is one of only two individuals who have visited the International Space Station on four different occasions. Already a celebrated American, Kelly became the center of international attention after the January 2011 assassination attempt on his wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz. In their best-selling memoir, “Gabby”, the couple shares their story of hope and resilience with the world.

• Navy Admiral William McRaven assumed command of Joint Special Operations Command on June 13, 2008. Prior to assuming command, he served from June 2006 to March 2008 as commander of Special Operations Command Europe. In addition to his duties as COMSOCEUR, he was designated as the first director of the NATO Special Operations Forces Coordination Centre, where he was charged with enhancing the capabilities and interoperability of all NATO Special Operations Forces.