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Lorraine K. Potter

Lorraine K. Potter served in the Air Force from 1973 to 2004. She became the first female chaplain to commission into the Air Force in 1973, the first woman to serve as senior chaplain in 1988, the first woman to serve as the Air Force command chaplain in United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Education and Training Command and the first female chaplain in the Armed Services to promote to colonel in 1992 and to general officer in 1999. During her military career, Potter visited and preached in 39 countries and all 50 states. She was not only the chief of Air Force Chaplains, but also the senior chaplain in the Department of Defense at the time of her retirement. She retired as a major general in June 2004. In retirement Potter has served her alma mater, Keuka College, Keuka Park, New York, as a trustee and consultant. She is a member and past president of the Board of Directors for Fisher House, Inc., Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, and a volunteer chaplain at local retirement communities and nursing homes. She is often invited to be keynote speaker for military and civilian programs, officiates at religious services and rites, and provides pastoral care to military families and neighbors.