Lt. General Claudia Kennedy said in a speech yesterday at AU that the steady increase of women serving in the armed forces in recent years will lead to important changes, such as women serving in combat.
Kennedy spoke to an audience of approximately 60 students and faculty in Kay Spiritual Center. In 1997, she became the first female promoted to the rank of three-star general in the history of the U.S. Army.
Kennedy spoke largely of gender issues in the military.
"I believe we are in the time of great friction for institutional change," Kennedy said.
The speech was followed by a book signing of Kennedy's 2001 memoir "Generally Speaking." Kennedy retired from the Army in 2000 after 32 years of service.
Jaison Desai, an ROTC cadet and graduate student in the School of Public Affairs, said he learned a lot from kennedy that would serve him well in his position as a future Army officer.
"I think she really got to the heart of some important issues in the Army today," Desai said.
Kennedy spoke at length of sexual harassment, saying men should worry about it more than women.
"Although women have a higher percentage of sexual harassment complaints, more men are sexually harassed each year," said Kennedy. She herself was a victim of sexual harassment by a fellow officer in 1996.
Kennedy also gave the audience advice on how to succeed in any setting. She listed six areas important to a successful career - power, persistence, authenticity, accountability, strategic vision and legacy. Kennedy's final message was to listen to what others say, but to "never learn a lesson too well" and to just "be yourself"
