A woman of Nigerian descent, Amanda Azubuike, has been decorated as a Brigadier General of the United States Army.

Her decoration took place recently at a military base in Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA.

Born in London, United Kingdom, to a Nigerian father and Zimbabwean mother, Azubuike joined the US Army in 1994 and became an aviator after passing the Army Aviation Officer Basic Course.

Commenting on her leadership qualities, US Army Futures Command Commander, General James Rainey, stated that Azubuike “makes everyone around her better.”

Amanda Azubuike began her career in the Aviation sector. After 11 years in the industry, she continued her career in the Army as a public affairs and relations officer.

Azubuike currently serves as a Deputy Commanding Officer at the US Army Cadet Command and previously served as a Chief of Staff/Senior Military Advisor at the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She was also Chief of Public Affairs at the United States Southern Command, Fort Lauderdale Area, and the Director of Public Affairs, Joint Force HQs-National Capital Region/Military District of Washington.

Apart from her Army qualifications, Gen. Azubuike has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication/Media Studies from the University of Central Arkansas, a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, and a Master of Professional Studies, Public Relations/Corporate Communications from Georgetown University.

“The past is your strength, your back is your strength, experience is your best teacher, she was quoted to have said at the ceremony by a colleague of hers on LinkedIn, Jun Bando.

Below are quick facts you need to know about her:

• She enrolled in the US Army in 1994 even before becoming a Citizen, becoming an aviator after passing the Army Aviation Basic Course.

• Amanda studied Mass Communication/Media Studies at the University of Central Arkansas between 1989 – 1993

• She has a Master of Professional Studies, Public Relations/Corporate Communications from Georgetown University.

• Azubuike 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 served 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.

• Azubuike was assigned to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, as the Commander of Alpha Company, Victory Brigade.

• She 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.

• Amanda was assigned to the U.S. Army Central Command’s Headquarters at Fort McPherson, Georgia.

• Azubuike 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.

• She was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs at the Pentagon in the Community Outreach Division.

• Amanda attended the U.S. Army War College and 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.

• Amanda 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.

• She served as the Chief of Public Affairs for the U.S. Southern Command Headquarters in Doral, Florida.

• Azubuike 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.