Army Close To Having First Female 3-Star General

The Army, buffeted by a sexual misconduct scandal and eager to make itself more hospitable to women, is likely soon to have its first female three-star general.

Maj. Gen. Claudia J. Kennedy, an intelligence specialist and 28-year veteran, was nominated Tuesday to become a lieutenant general.

Kennedy, who has served as the Army’s assistant deputy chief of staff for intelligence since July 1995, also is being nominated to serve as the deputy chief of staff for intelligence.

Kennedy’s appointment must be confirmed by the Senate.

The Army and Navy have already had three-star officers.

Born in Germany, she began her military career in 1969 in the Women’s Army Corps at Fort McLellan, Ala., and has had a series of increasingly responsible administrative and intelligence positions since.

Before her current posting, she was deputy commander of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and, earlier, director of Intelligence, G-2, Forces Command, at Fort McPherson, Ga.