(Details of her CV and abridged speech below)
Nigerian-born Amanda I. Azubuike has been promoted and decorated with her new rank of Brigadier General, a one-star General, in the United States (U.S.) Army.
At the decoration ceremony, an emotional General Azubike broke down in tears as she recounted her life journey, paying tributes to her late parents as “this would have been a proud day for them.”
Stating that she is proud of “my ethnic roots,” General Azubuike noted that her decoration to the rank of a General is a testament that the U.S. is “great, that it was worth fighting for and that it is truly a land of opportunities.”
According to her, “Both my parents passed on in the last six to eight years. This would have been a proud day for them. But I acknowledge my family members who were able to travel and be with me here today.
“I never really would have thought I would be here today. My journey is a true testament to my family, my faith in God and this great country that we live in. I think it was what my mother dreamt of when she left and decided to emigrate to this country all those years ago.
“I joined the U.S. military before I was a U.S. citizen. But I always knew this country was great, that it was worth fighting for and that it is truly a land of opportunities.”
Holding down tears, she said, “I am very proud of my heritage, my ethnic roots. But I am equally proud to be an American and to serve in the world’s best Army.”
General Azubuike received her commission from the
University of Central Arkansas in December 1993 and earned a
bachelor’s degree in Communications.
She graduated from Flight School in 1995 as a UH-1 pilot and began her career with the 924th Aviation Support Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, where she served as a platoon leader.
She went on to serve as the Flight Operations Officer, followed by
Platoon Leader for the Aviation Company, Multinational Force and
Observers in the Sinai, Egypt.
After the Military Intelligence Captain’s Career Course and Fixed Wing Multi-Engine Qualification Course, she served with the 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation) in South Korea as an Operations Officer and RC-12 pilot.
After her assignment in South Korea, General Azubuike was assigned to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, as the Commander of Alpha Company, Victory Brigade.
After attending the Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course, General Azubuike was assigned to the Coalition Forces Land Component Command in Kuwait from July 2005 through June 2006, where she served as a Public Affairs Operations Officer.
She was then assigned to the U.S. Army Central Command’s Headquarters at Fort McPherson, Georgia. After attending, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, General Azubuike then served as the Chief of Media Relations and Public Affairs Operations Officer with the U.S. Army Central Command’s Headquarters at Fort McPherson, Georgia.
Although she was assigned to Fort McPherson, she spent much of the time in Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
General Azubuike attended Georgetown University earning a Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations and Corporate Communications. She was assigned to the Office of the Chief of
Public Affairs at the Pentagon in the Community Outreach Division.
Following her attendance at the U.S. Army War College, she was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, as the Public Affairs Director, and deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan, with the Division Headquarters.
After her promotion to Colonel, she was assigned to the Joint Force Headquarters / Military District of Washington at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. as the Public Affairs Director, where she led the joint public affairs team that supported the 58th Presidential Inauguration.
Next, General Azubuike served as the Chief of Public Affairs for the U.S. Southern Command Headquarters in Doral, Florida.
Later, she served as the Chief of Staff and Senior Military Assistant to the Principal Deputy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.
Her operational deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom include: Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, and Bagram, Afghanistan.
She has earned the Army Aviator Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Parachutist Badge.
Her awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Achievement Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster.