1987 – Hazel Johnson-Brown Retires as U.S. Army General

On June 15, 1987, General Hazel Johnson-Brown retired from the United States Army, concluding a trailblazing career as the first Black woman to achieve the rank of general and to head the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Born in Pennsylvania in 1927, Johnson-Brown defied racial and gender barriers throughout her military service. She joined the Army in 1955 and quickly rose through the ranks due to her competence, leadership, and commitment to education. Her appointment as brigadier general in 1979 was a watershed moment, inspiring countless others to pursue military and medical careers. Her retirement marked the end of nearly three decades of service and leadership in a historically exclusionary institution. Though American, her legacy resonated internationally, especially among women of African descent in global military and health sectors. Her accomplishments symbolized the progress and potential of underrepresented communities in elite professional spaces.