Amanda Azubuike, a 57-year-old U.S. Army officer of Nigerian descent, has made history as the first Nigerian woman to be promoted to Brigadier General in the United States Army. Her achievement stands as a milestone for women, particularly Black women, in military leadership.
Born in London to a Nigerian father of Igbo origin and a Zimbabwean mother, Azubuike’s journey to military success began early. After her parents’ divorce, she moved to the United States with her mother and sister, becoming a U.S. citizen in April 1989.
Her military aspirations took shape at 17 when she joined the Air Force Junior ROTC while attending Jacksonville High School. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas in 1993 before joining the U.S. Army as an aviator in 1994.
Azubuike’s career soared when she graduated from flight school as a UH-1 pilot, serving in leadership roles at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia and later in South Korea. She transitioned from aviation to intelligence, public affairs, and senior advisory positions, earning a Master’s degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Georgetown University.
Her distinguished 30-year career includes roles as Deputy Commanding Officer at the U.S. Army Cadet Command, Chief of Public Affairs for the U.S. Southern Command, and Senior Military Advisor at the Pentagon.
