2014 Professional Achievement Award winner Gwendolyn Bingham retired as a three-star U.S. Army Lieutenant General. One of her last military assignments was as assistant chief of staff for installation management for Army installations worldwide.
Bingham was presented with the Women of Color Award at the 2014 Women of Color STEM Gala by 2012 Technologist of the Year Sonya Sepahban, former senior vice president, General Dynamics Corporation
As assistant chief of staff for Installation Management (ACSIM), Bingham was a principal officer on the Headquarters, Department of the Army Staff and the advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army on Installations and Soldier and Family Readiness.
The daughter of a twenty-year Army veteran, Gwen Bingham joined the Quartermaster Corps after graduating from the University of Alabama in 1981 as an Army ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate. She served her first tour at Fort Lee, a base outside Petersburg, that same year.
Starting as a second lieutenant, Bingham worked her way up the ranks and became a battalion commander at Fort Lee in 2000. She settled in the community with her husband and two children.
'First female garrison commander
In 2005 Bingham rose to be the first female garrison commander at Fort Lee, working in the position until 2008, when she became chief of staff to the facility's commanding general. Two years later she assumed command of the U.S. Army Quartermaster School.
As the institution's commandant, she oversaw the training of 20,000 soldiers each year in the art of supplying the army's soldiers. On April 22, 2011, Bingham received a promotion to brigadier general. With that breakthrough, she became the first female quartermaster general of the army.
The following year the Department of Defense announced that Bingham would transfer to New Mexico's White Sands Missile Range and serve as its next commanding general and Commanding General, Tank-automotive and Armaments Life Cycle Management Command, Warren, Michigan.
'Platoon leader to Three-Star Commanding General
Bingham earned master's degrees from Central Michigan University and the National Defense University. Her military schooling includes the Quartermaster Officer Basic and Advanced Courses; Combined Arms and Services Staff School; Army Command and General Staff College; the Army Inspector General Course; Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course.
Bingham served in a myriad of staff and leadership positions throughout her career and deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
She received numerous military awards including the Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster); Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters); Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster); Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters); Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Achievement Medal and numerous campaign and service medals.