Jeanne Holm
First woman Brigadier General in the Air Force.
Major General Jeanne M. Holm helped transform the role of women in the United States Air Force.
Born in Portland, Oregon, in 1921, Jeanne Holm joined the Army Air Forces during World War II as part of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. After the war, when the United States Air Force became a separate service in 1947, she continued her career and became one of the most influential advocates for women in military service.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Colonel Holm served as the Director of Women in the Air Force (WAF). At the time, opportunities for women in uniform were still limited. Women were restricted in the jobs they could hold, the rank they could achieve, and even the number who could serve.
Holm believed the Air Force would be stronger if it fully used the talents of all its people. Working inside the Pentagon, she helped lead efforts to expand opportunities for women, opening more career fields and promoting policies that recognized women as full members of the force rather than temporary auxiliaries. Her leadership helped remove the cap on the number of women allowed to serve and expanded professional roles across the Air Force.
In 1973, Jeanne Holm made history when she became the first woman in the United States Air Force to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.
Later promoted to Major General, she became the first female two-star general in the history of the Air Force.
Major General Holm’s work helped shape the modern military, paving the way for generations of women who would follow as pilots, commanders, and senior leaders. Her career reminds us that progress in the armed forces often begins with those who are willing to challenge old assumptions and open doors for others.
Major General Jeanne M. Holm helped ensure that service to the nation would be defined not by gender, but by ability, leadership, and commitment. Her legacy continues today in the thousands of women who serve across every branch of the United States military.
