USAF Officer Sits in First Lady’s Box for State of Union

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Col. Ginger Wallace, an Air Force intelligence officer, was among the 23 invited guests to sit in First Lady Michelle Obama’s box during President Obama’s state of the union address Tuesday evening. She was there at the White House’s invitation to represent gay and lesbian service members and veterans. Wallace is now in training in preparation for a year-long deployment to Afghanistan this spring. In December, the colonel made news when her partner of 10 years attended her promotion ceremony and pinned on Wallace’s new rank. The White House said this was the “first such event reported following the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the policy that banned homosexuals from openly serving in the US military. Traditionally, the First Lady’s viewing box is filled with “extraordinary Americans” who are highlighted in the President’s speech, according to the White House. Adm. William McRaven, head of US Special Operations Command, was another of the First Lady’s guests. (See White House blog post and AFPS report by Karen Parrish)

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org