Wilma Vaught was among the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, at the White House on Thursday.

Vaught received the award from President Joe Biden for accomplishments that blazed a trail for women in the military. The 92-year-old was bestowed with civilian honor along with 16 others, including two prominent figures from the civil rights movement.

“Wilma’s one of the most decorated women ever to serve in the United States military,” Biden said during Thursday’s ceremony. “She enlisted in the 1950s because she wanted to be a leader. She did that and more, becoming the first woman in almost every leadership role she held” in nearly 30 years in uniform.

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She was the first woman to deploy with an Air Force bomber unit, and the first woman to reach the rank of brigadier general from the comptroller field.

Biden praised Vaught, who earned an MBA from UA, for “shattering conventions, shaping a new tradition of our military.”

Vaught served as the senior military representative to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services and was chairperson of the Committee of Women in the NATO Armed Forces.

In 1983, Vaught was given the Illini Achievement Award by the University of Illinois.  She also served as president of the board of directors of the Pentagon Federal Credit Union from April 1976 to July 1982, making her the only woman in its history to hold this position.

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In 2000, Vaught was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2010, she was inducted into the US Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame.

Her other military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm, and Vietnam Campaign Medal.