Monday, President Bush announced that a top logistic officer was nominated to become the first female four-star general in U.S. history. Lt. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody is going to become the head of the Army Materiel Command, being responsible with supplying the Army with its equipment.

According to the Los Angeles Times, an Army spokesperson said that Dunwoody must wait until the Senate approves the nomination. She said in a statement released by the army that she was “very honored but also very humbled.” Apparently she was the most appropriate female candidate to become a full general.

This is an important achievement because, for a long time, there were only one-star and two-star Army females named.

“It was still onesies and twosies for a long time,” said Judith M. Matteson, director of the U.S. Army Women's Museum at Ft. Lee, Va.

The law says that women are excluded from becoming four-star generals because the position requires combat roles to be fulfilled. This time, the Army made an exception and chose Dunwoody to take the position.

The Army has only two three-star females: Dunwoody and Lt. Gen. Kathleen Gainey, director of logistics on the Joint Staff. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a statement that Dunwoody’s 33 years of service and her devotement to her job made her the perfect candidate.

“Her 33 years of service, highlighted by extraordinary leadership and devotion to duty, make her exceptionally qualified for this senior position,” said Gates, according to The Associated Press.

Dunwoody was commander of Army Combined Arms Support Command and the Army deputy chief of staff for logistics. Until she officially becomes the head of the Army Materiel Command, she is still the deputy commander.

38 years ago, the first two female Army one-stars were named and, 11 years ago, the first female three-star general became the head of Army intelligence.

“Women continue to achieve great success and make invaluable contributions to the defense of this nation,” said Gates.

Dunwoody’s father, grandfather and great-grandfather were also in the Army.