Carol Mutter

Mutter was born Carol Ann Schneider on December 17, 1945, in Greeley, Colorado to Hedwig (née Spaedt) and Albert Schneider. She entered Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado), intending to become a teacher. She became interested in mathematics and sciences, where her classes had predominantly male students, including many former military attending in the G.I. Bill. During the summer between her junior and senior years, she attended a ten-week Women Officer Candidate Course (WOCC) in Quantico, Virginia. She entered her senior year to complete her student teaching requirements. She received her bachelor's degree in Mathematics Education. in 1967. Instead of going into teaching, the day before graduation, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, with a three-year commitment. Mutter later earned a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island and a Master of Science in Business from Salve Regina University in Newport. In addition, she has honorary doctorates from the University of Northern Colorado and Salve Regina University. Mutter also attended the Amphibious Warfare School and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, both at Quantico, Virginia. ==Military career==

as a brigadier general in May 1994. After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado, Mutter completed the Woman Officer Basic Course in 1967 at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Her first assignment was to the data processing installations at Quantico, Virginia, and then in Camp Pendleton, California. In 1971, Mutter returned to Quantico as a platoon commander and instructor for women officer candidates and basic course lieutenants; and, was promoted to captain. During 1973–1984, Mutter progressed to the rank of lieutenant colonel while serving as Project Officer for Marine Air Command and Control Systems at Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity at Camp Pendleton, California; Financial Management Officer at the Development Center, Quantico, Virginia; Assistant Chief of Staff, Comptroller, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan; and Deputy Comptroller at Headquarters, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1985, capitalizing on her expertise in both data processing and financial management, she was assigned as the Deputy Program Manager, and subsequently Program Manager, for the development of new Marine Corps automated pay and personnel systems for active duty, retired, and reserve Marines. In July 1988, as a colonel, Mutter joined the United States Space Command, J-3 (Operations) Directorate in Colorado Springs becoming the first woman to gain qualification as a Space Director. After initially serving as a Command Center Crew Commander/Space Director she became the Division Chief responsible for the operation of the Space Command Commander in Chief's Command Center. In August 1990, Mutter was transferred to III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) on Okinawa, Japan for duty as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Comptroller for both III MEF and the 3rd Marine Division. In 1991, Mutter was promoted to brigadier general, and in June, returned to Quantico as a to serve as the Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Systems Command and Program Manager for Command and Control Systems. In June 1992, she again transferred to Okinawa, this time as the first woman of general/flag officer rank to command a major deployable tactical command, the 3rd Force Service Support Group (FSSG), III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF), United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. , Gen. C.C. Krulak (left), assisted by her husband (right) and mother. In June 1994, she became the first woman in the Marine Corps to be promoted to the rank of major general (O-8) and served as Commander, Marine Corps Systems Command at Marine Corps Base Quantico until August 1996. In March 1996, Mutter was nominated for promotion to O-9 by President Bill Clinton.{{cite web|access-date=June 6, 2025|url=https://www.war.gov/Multimedia/Photos/igphoto/2002015940/ On January 1, 1999, Lieutenant General Mutter retired from the Marine Corps after 31 years of active service.{{cite news|accessdate=May 5, 2025 ==Post-military career==

Military-related roles Mutter served as the president of the Women Marines Association from 2000 to 2004, then served on the board from 2004 to 2008 as the past-president. She was also appointed to the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS), which she chaired from 2002 to 2006. DACOWITS is "composed of civilian women and men appointed by the Secretary of Defense to provide advice and recommendations on matters and policies relating to the recruitment, retention, employment, integration, well-being, and treatment of women in the Armed Forces of the United States." ==Personal life==

Mutter is married to James M. Mutter, who retired from the Marine Corps in July 1993, after 36 years of service, Colonel Mutter In 2008, Mutter spoke at the Republican National Convention in support of Senator John McCain, the party's nominee for president. ==Awards, recognitions, honors ==

Military Firsts In Mutter's career in the military, she achieved a number of firsts: "a non-profit education and service foundation [501c3] with the mission to ‘Acknowledge, Honor, Encourage and Educate Women’". Born and raised in Colorado, she was chosen for making "significant and enduring contributions to her field", elevating "the status of women... in society", and inspiring "others as a role model". ==See also==