July 3, 2024: First Muslim Promoted to Rank of General in U.S. Military

​Cindy Saladin-Muhammed is the first Muslim to earn the rank of general in the U.S. military. 

Saladin-Muhammed, from Newark, New Jersey, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on July 3, 2024 and serves as the Deputy Commanding General of the 807th Medical Command.

Saladin-Muhammed’s career began in 1984 when she graduated from high school, joined the U.S. Army, and completed Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. She enlisted as a private, only intending to fulfill her entry obligation of four years. “My goal was to obtain funding to further my studies after high school,” she says. “I never imagined a day I would be a brigadier general” (Rutgers).

She has an extensive educational experience and holds degrees from Rutgers University, Temple University, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and the U.S. Army War College, including a Doctorate in Business Administration.  She was trained as a toxicologist and is a Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt.  In an interview with Rutgers in 2024 she said, “A military career is something to be proud of, and I love every opportunity to thank Veterans for their service.”

Sources:
·https://www.usar.army.mil/Leadership/Article-View/Article/3807959/brig-gen-cindy-m-saladin-muhammad/

·https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2024/10/11/new-jersey-woman-becomes-americas-first-muslim-army-general/

·https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslims_in_the_United_States_military

·https://sasn.rutgers.edu/news/rutgers-alumna-promoted-brigadier-general
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·https://www.instagram.com/p/DAtZvUQp69G/