Brigadier General Amanda Azubuike, a distinguished military leader, has made history in the United States (US) Army. Amanda Azubuike, 57, was born in London to a Nigerian father and a Zimbabwean mother. Her father moved to the UK to study law, where he met her mother, a nursing student and a union was formed. After her parents separated, Azubuike’s mother relocated to the United States in 1984, bringing her and her sister.
At 17, while attending Jacksonville High School, Azubuike joined the Air Force Junior ROTC program, marking the beginning of her military career. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas in December 1993. Shortly after completing her degree, she was commissioned into the U.S. Army in 1994.
Later, in 1995, she graduated from flight school and began her career as a UH-1 pilot with the 924th Aviation Support Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia, where she served as a platoon leader. Her journey then took her to South Korea, where she served as an Operations Officer and RC-12 pilot with the 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion. Her roles expanded as she took on leadership positions, including Commander of Alpha Company at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
After a decade in aviation, Azubuike transitioned to public affairs, where she continued to excel. She took on key roles, such as Chief of Public Affairs for the U.S. Southern Command and Public Affairs Director for the 3rd Infantry Division, during which she deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan.
Her recent promotion to Brigadier General makes her the first Nigerian woman to achieve this rank in the U.S. Army. She assumed the role of Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Cadet Command, overseeing 274 senior ROTC programs and 30,000 cadets.
Throughout her career, Amanda Azubuike has strongly advocated education, particularly in STEM fields, and has actively mentored the next generation of military leaders. Her growth in the US Army inspires all women of colour. It proves that African women still have the potential to take up leadership positions on the stage.
