Alumna Col. Valerie R. Taylor
bravely and proudly serves
Valerie R. Taylor, the daughter of Ernest Taylor of Jackson and Beverly Taylor of Nashville, has accomplished a feat that few African-American women in the military have achieved –the rank of colonel. Promoted in the spring of 2009, Taylor is currently stationed at the Scott Air Force Base Illinois Headquarters Air Mobility Command. While African-American women have played significant roles in U.S. war efforts throughout the years, they have often failed to be recognized and rewarded for their important service contributions. Taylor is among the distinct club of
ALUMNIlife • Centennial Edition
military women of color who has successfully broken barriers and opened doors of opportunity for other women. It was in 1977 that Taylor made the decision to enlist in the United States Air Force in the 118th Combat Support Squadron, Tennessee National Guard. During her enlistment, she made certain that education remained a top priority and earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1978, followed three years later with a Master of Public Administration from Tennessee State University. She received a direct commission as second lieutenant in September 1982. While serving as director of operations, 118th Aeromedicial Evacuation (AE), Taylor attended the Health Service Administration School in 1983 and 1987, and was selected to attend postgraduate Public Administration studies at Auburn University in Montgomery, Ala. During her tenure in the Tennessee National Guard, she also served as officer-incharge, Aeromedicial Evacuation Control, Rhein Mein, Germany, and
duty officer for AS Control Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In 1988, Taylor was assigned as readiness chief at MacDill AFB, Fla. During this assignment, she deployed as deputy commander at Seeb Airbase, Oman, supervising more than 200 personnel in seven countries. Taylor also performed duties as chief of protocol for USCENTCOM Commander, General Tommy Franks, coordinating visits from dignitaries around the world, including presidents and royal families. Again, she deployed in 2004, as commander where she directed AS operations in two simultaneous theaters of war, responsible for the safe and expeditious evacuation of patients from combat zones. Taylor was assigned to Headquarters Air Mobility Command as Chief AE Contingency and Mission Support in 2005, where she provided command and control guidance for all Department of Defense AE patient movement for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, including national emergency declarations such as Hurricane Katrina and the California wildfires. A combat veteran, Taylor has accumulated more than 1,000 hours in the C-130, C-141 and C-9 aircraft as an AE crewmember. 23