Tampa veteran breaks Army's glass ceiling

TAMPA (FOX 13) - A military veteran living in South Tampa broke the glass ceiling in the Army.

Ann Dunwoody and her husband, Craig Brotchie are both retired military living in South Tampa.

Ann calls herself a "proud Army brat." Her military service is part of her family's bloodline.

"[There are] four generations of West Pointer's in my family," said Ann. "My brothers, my dad, granddad, my great-granddad."

But Ann wanted her life to take a different path. Since the age of five, she says she wanted to be a coach and teach physical education.

That all changed when she went to college in 1974. She took part in a new Army initiative to get more women to join the military.

"They would pay you $500 a month during your senior year in college. You're commissioned a 2nd lieutenant with a two-year commitment," she explained.

And when her two-year stint was up, her mind was made up.

"I remember telling my dad that I really loved being a soldier and I loved leading soldiers," Ann said.

So she made it a career, like so many in her family had done.

"I just found it so rewarding. I had opportunities to make a difference in ways that I could never imagine, had I not joined," Ann explained.

She also didn't imagine being the first female Four-Star General in the United States Army in 2008.

"It was the most touching and rewarding ceremony that I have ever been a part of," Ann remembers.

She was a champion for the promotion of females in the ranks.

"You can make believers out of non-believers when you're fair, professional, and you can actually meet the standards," Ann said.

General Dunwoody retired in 2012 and now mentors young leaders. She was also named the Grand Marshall of the Gasparilla parade.