The Soldier who “forever shattered the glass ceiling” for other women to seek higher advancement in the Georgia National Guard, and served an inspiration to peers of both genders, brought to a close a 30-year military career in retirement ceremonies attended by family, friends and colleagues from the civilian and military communities.
For Col. Laura Strange, a chief nurse, staff officer and one-time deputy commander for the Georgia Army National Guard’s Medical Command, it was a day of reflection on a significant military career. Col Strange makes Georgia Army National Guard history by being the first female promoted to the rank of colonel in March 2000 in Georgia Army National Guard.
Col Strange, a resident of Dekalb County, was the Georgia Army National Guard’s first female colonel. In her civilian work, she is the director of clinical studies for the Atlanta office of Research Triangle Institute. RTI does medical research for a variety of agencies, including the Department of Defense. Col. Strange received her Bachelor of Nursing at the Medical College of Georgia in 1974, her Masters of Nursing and later her PhD in 1981 and 2004 respectively from Emory University.
“As I consider my military career, all the things I have done, all that I have experienced, I am reminded that it’s the combined efforts of talented, dedicated members of this organization that allows it to successfully meet its mission requirements, not just one person,” Strange said.
“To all of you I have served with, whether it’s been here at state headquarters, Georgia Medical Command, 78th Troop Command or 48th Brigade Combat Team, I say ‘thank you,” continued Strange, “I thank you for professionalism, your commitment to service and for your mentorship and friendship.”
Upon her retirement, Strange received an honorary promotion to the rank of brigadier general. Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia’s s Adjutant General presented Col. Strange with the prestigious Legion of Merit Award. Strange noted that the first recipient of this prestigious honor was another Navy nurse, Lt Ann Bernatitus, received the medal the medal for her service during the campaign in the Philippines’ Manila-Bataan Peninsula during World War II..
“I began my military career in September 1973 as a Navy Nurse, so that, and the fact that the medal’s first bearer was a woman, makes this such a great honor,” she said with a broad, yet humble smile.
A guide on bearing the Nurse Corps emblem was also awarded to Strange by Col. Thomas M. Kias, Georgia’s State Surgeon and Commander of the GA ARNG Medical Command. Strange said that this gift from the medical command will always remind her of the teamwork, dedication and professionalism of her fellow Guardsmen. Strange was also awarded the Army Commendation Medal and a National Guard Bureau Certificate for her 35 years with the U.S. military, including the 26 she has served as a Citizen-Soldier.
Col. Strange acknowledged the sacrifices may by her family in the pursuit of her military career with the National Guard. “The time and effort I committed to the Guard would not have been possible without my husband, a former National Guardsman, and the support and understanding of my daughter, Leslie and son, Adam, a Midshipman second class in Navy ROTC at Auburn University. All of them, but especially my husband, understood that, sometimes, the needs of the Guard trumped those of the family.”
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| (L-to-R) Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, the Adjutant General for Georgia, presents the Legion of Merit Award to Col. Laura Strange at retirement ceremonies held in |