Carmelita Vigil - Schimmenti Brigadier General Carmelita Vigil - Schimmenti ( born December 16 , 1936 ) was an officer of the United States Air Force , who in 1985 became the first Hispanic female to attain the rank of Brigadier General . Vigil - Schimmenti was the Chief of the U . S Air Force Nurse Corps , Office of the Surgeon General ; Headquarters U . S . Air Force , Washington , D . C . Early years . Vigil - Schimmenti was born in Albuquerque , New Mexico , where she lived at her family ' s ranch between Edgewood and Moriarty . She graduated from St . Mary ’ s High School in 1954 . In 1957 , she received her nursing diploma from the Regina School of Nursing of Albuquerque . Military career . Vigil - Schimmenti joined the U . S . Air Force in 1958 and was assigned to the Air Force Nurse Corps . From August 1958 until September 1960 , she served as an operating room nurse and general duty nurse at the USAF Medical Center Wright - Patterson , Wright - Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio . During the time she served at the USAF Medical Center Wright - Patterson , she was able to complete the flight nurse course at Gunter Air Force Base in Alabama . In 1960 , Vigil - Schimmenti was assigned as a general duty nurse at USAF Dispensary , Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii , where she served until May 1962 , when she was transferred to the 9th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron , Tachikawa Air Base , Japan , where she was a flight nurse until August 1964 . In August 1964 , Vigil - Schimmenti left to attend the University of Pittsburgh and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1966 . In July 1966 , she was assigned to the USAF School of Health Care Sciences , Sheppard Air Force Base , Texas , as an instructor in the Medical Service Specialist Course . Vietnam War . Vigil - Schimmenti served in the Pacific during the Vietnam War . In June 1968 , Vigil - Schimmenti , was named the charge nurse in the school health program and primary care screening nurse at USAF Dispensary , Kadena Air Base , Okinawa . Return to the United States . In January 1971 , she returned to the United States and was assigned to David Grant USAF Medical Center , Travis Air Force Base , California , as charge nurse emergency services and primary care clinic , charge nurse oncology clinic and home care service . Vigil - Schimmenti attended the University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill from August 1973 until August 1974 and earned a Master of Public Health degree . Following graduate studies , she was transferred to Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center , Lackland Air Force Base , Texas , where she served as charge nurse , clinical coordinator and facility design coordinator . Vigil - Schimmenti served in various positions until March 1983 , when she was selected as command nurse , Headquarters Strategic Air Command , Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska . In October 1985 , Vigil - Schimmenti became the first Hispanic female to attain the rank of Brigadier General . She assumed the duties of Chief of the U . S Air Force Nurse Corps , Office of the Surgeon General ; Headquarters U . S . Air Force , Washington , D . C . Later years . Vigil - Schimmenti retired from the Air Force in 1988 and returned to Albuquerque with her husband , retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Joseph A . Schimmenti . During her service years she attended the Air War College and the Inter - Agency Institute . Vigil - Schimmenti is a member of the American Nurses Association , Texas Nurses Association , Association of Military Surgeons of the United States , National League for Nursing , Air Force Association and the Aerospace Medical Association . Awards and recognitions . Among Brigadier General Carmelita Vigil - Schimmenti ' s decorations and medals were the following :