Lorraine K. Potter
Lorraine K. Potter | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | 1946 (age 77–78) |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Air Force |
Years of service | 1973–2004 |
Rank | Major General |
Commands held | Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force |
Lorraine Kay Potter (née Fallon;[1] 1946) is a former Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force and was the first female chaplain in the United States Air Force.
Biography
A native of
Career
Potter initially inquired about serving as a military chaplain in 1972. She sent a letter to the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force at the time, Roy M. Terry. The response stated that one of the qualifications for a chaplain in the air force was that they had to be male. Several weeks later, she received a letter stating that the Chief of Chaplains had dropped the gender requirement, and that if her church gave her an endorsement, it would be possible for her to become an air force chaplain. She received the endorsement and eventually was commissioned an officer in 1973.
In 1992, while stationed at
From 1994 to 1995, she served as executive director of the
Awards and military decorations
![]() | ||
![]() |
![]() | |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() | ||
![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() |
Badge | Air Force Christian Chaplain Badge | ||
---|---|---|---|
1st Row | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
|
Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster | Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
2nd Row | Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters | Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
|
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
|
3rd Row | Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
|
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star | Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short |
4th Row | Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Long with oak leaf cluster | Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
|
Air Force Training Ribbon
|
Badge | Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge |
References
- ^ "The Chaplain". General Commission on Chaplains. 1973.
- ^ "Chaplain (Major General) Lorraine K. Potter". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- ^ "'I never liked being first'". National Council of Churches. Archived from the original on 2009-05-27. Retrieved 2011-10-02.