Alabama Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Sheryl Gordon gets a friendly embrace at a retirement party for her at the guard headquarters in Montgomery, Ala., Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. Gordon, the assistant adjutant general for the Alabama Guard, is retiring after more than 32 years of service. Gordon is one of only two female major generals in the Guard nationally.By BOB JOHNSON
Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Maj. Gen. Sheryl Gordon has retired after a 32-year career in the Alabama Army National Guard during which she became the first and still only woman general in the organization’s history.
She also was one of only two women major generals in the Army Guard nationally and retired as the assistant adjutant general for the Alabama Guard, which is the primary adviser to the Alabama Guard’s top officer.
The 56-year-old Gordon, who lives on Lake Martin and grew up in Selma, has also retired from a long career as a teacher and administrator at Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City.