Visionary receives namesake award for women's leadership

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Richard A. Williams, Jr.
  • Air Force Public Affairs Agency
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The Air Force announced the creation of the Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught Visionary Leadership Award to honor the accomplishments of female Airmen as a part of the 2012 Joint Women's Leadership Symposium here March 5.

Lt. Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, military deputy of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, was on hand to present the inaugural award to retired Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught during the symposium.

"We are so excited to have honored Brigadier General Vaught's accomplishments with this award," Wolfenbarger said. "The standing ovation she received by over 1,700 military participants of the Joint Women's Leadership Symposium shows the incredible respect she has earned for her service."

Vaught was the first woman selected for promotion to brigadier general in the comptroller career field and first Air Force woman graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
"I am deeply honored," Vaught said. "The award can give women who are serving something to aspire to and it encourages recognition of the accomplishments of servicewomen."

When she began her career in the 1950's, Vaught said she had many great women who had served in World War II and inspired her in her military career.

Since then, she's worked with the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Inc., where she serves as president of the board of directors. Vaught said she has had the opportunity to know women in all five branches of service, both enlisted and officer, and she sees a new generation of great women serving today.

"To have been selected for this honor knowing all of these women going back from World War II to the present time ... it is awesome to have been selected from this group for an honor like this," Vaught said.

To be successful, individuals must strive for their best, focus on their goals and continually learn through advanced degrees or gaining more knowledge, she said.

"I think that is the single most important thing that every individual should be doing all the time is educating oneself," she said.

Secondly, Vaught said success is a team effort where people can draw or provide inspiration for each other.

"Take care of the people around you so perhaps you can inspire them to achieve things that they never thought they could," she added.
Those two things are the foundation to be successful not only as an Airman but in life, Vaught said.

The Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught Visionary Leadership Award will be given in three categories: officer (O-6 and below); enlisted (E-9 and below); and civilian (GS-15 and below) for demonstrated visionary leadership that expanded opportunities for women and used innovation to inspire others to see the Air Force as a positive place for women to share their talents. The period for this award is Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 each calendar year.

Vaught also received the inaugural Sea Service Leadership Association's North Star Lifetime Achievement award. The award honors women whose steadfast devotion and unwavering commitment has created the opportunities that women in the military benefit from today.