National Guard Makes Historic Promotions

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The Indiana National Guard has reached two milestones as it recently promoted the first black female general and the first Air National Guard female general. Brigadier General Felicia Brokaw of Indianapolis received her one-star flag which represents her promotion to a general officer, while the Indiana Air National Guard has promoted Brig. Gen. Lisa Snyder, the first first female general.

Brokaw, who’s served more than 34 years in the military, serves as the logistics assistant chief of staff for U.S. Forces Korea. According to the Indiana National Guard, Brokaw’s most recent assignment was as the human resource officer and prior to that the commander of Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center from June 2018 to July 2021.

“Col. Felicia Brokaw was selected for promotion to the rank of brigadier general, the first Indiana Army National Guard African American female to achieve this rank,” said Brig. Gen. Dale Lyles, the Indiana National Guard adjutant general. “Felicia exhibits all the necessary traits to excel in here new position, strong character, resiliency, determination and a genuine care for her soldiers. She brings a high degree of experience and knowledge in logistical, maintenance, and sustainment planning and operations – which is vitally important to achieving success in a multidomain environment in large scale combat operations.”

Meanwhile, the Indiana Air National Guard has promoted Brig. Gen. Lisa Snyder of Lewistown, Pennsylvania,  who received her one-star rank.

Snyder began her career as a general practice physician with the 181st Medical Group. She direct commissioned into the Indiana Air National Guard in 2001.

She now serves as the Air National Guard assistant for Defense Health Agency – Combat Support Operations. The guard says her most recent Indiana National Guard assignment was the State Air Surgeon.

“She is nothing short of extraordinary with exemplary service executed through a strong work ethic that is driven by an airmen centric approach and mission focus,” said Brig. Gen. Patrick Renwick, assistant adjutant general for Indiana Air National Guard. “She raised the bar for medical readiness not only within Indiana, but throughout the United States Air Force.”

In 2005, Snyder deployed in support of Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica and an Air Expeditionary Force deployment as the flight surgeon.