TOPEKA (KSNT) – Refusing to stand on the sidelines, retired Air Force Brigadier General Deborah Rose worked hard and made history in the Sunflower State.
Rose joined the U.S. Air Force in 1983 as a nurse. Early on in her career she spent 30 days in Saudi Arabia where the American service women had to abide by the same rules set for the women who lived there.
“We couldn’t drive,” she said. “If we wanted to go down to the souk, we had to have a male go with us. You know, things that we wouldn’t think about. And we were at that point, we were required to wear the black abaya that the dress part of that.”
One of Deborah’s goals was to find a new position every three years. When that time came, she was successful in moving up the ranks.
Veteran Salute: Fueling the frontlines of Iraq
So successful that, in 2007, she made history as the first woman to become a brigadier general in the Kansas National Guard.
“The purpose was to break the glass window and make sure other people were able to go through it,” she said.
Now, Rose said she knows many female colonel’s here in Kansas who would make a great brigadier general, to follow in the path that she paved for so many. In her 28-year long career, she said she’s so proud of working with the airmen that she did.
“They are the true guardians of our country,” Rose said. “And I’ve just been blessed all the way around with wonderful people to work with.”
For more Veteran Salute, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.
