Peggy Combs
Co-Chair, America's Servicemembers
Major General Peggy Combs hails from Oriskany, New York, and was commissioned as a Regular Army 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Chemical Corps in May 1985 as a distinguished military graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps Program at Syracuse University.
Throughout her 33-year service tenure, MG Combs served in a variety of leadership and staff positions at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels. Tactical assignments included a myriad of diverse staff officer positions at the battalion, brigade, and division levels throughout the world. Strategic level assignments included duty at the National Ground Intelligence Center in Charlottesville, Virginia, and as the Chief, Full Dimension Protection Division, DCS G8, U.S. Army Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Brigadier General Officer assignments included the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Cadet Command (ROTC) and Fort Knox, Fort Knox, Kentucky, the 27th Chief of Chemical and Commandant, U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Acting Commanding General, U.S. Army Training Center at Fort Jackson, Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
As a Major General, she served as the Commander of the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and culminated her career in service as the Chief of Staff, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.
Major General Combs’ military education includes the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Syracuse University, a Master of Science Degree from Saint Mary College, and a Master of Strategic Arts Degree from the U.S. Army War College. In 2021, she was awarded a Doctorate of Laws Honoris Causa from Syracuse University.
Major General Combs’ awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Army Legion of Merit (three oak leaf clusters), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal (five oak leaf clusters), the Joint Service Achievement Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the Army Commendation Medal (three oak leaf clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge.
Major General Combs assumed the Office of the President of the Army and Navy Academy, Carlsbad, CA, on October 17th, 2022.
America's Field Trip
Engaging students nationwide to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary!
This contest invites students in grades 3–12 to share their perspectives on what America means to them — and earn the opportunity to travel for field trip experiences at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks.