The District Chronicles

Issue date: 8/10/08 Section: Politics

Media Credit: Brigadier General Allyson Solomon

She was born and raised in a humble, working-class family on the island of Trinidad and Tobago. Now, Alpha Kappa Alpha soror, Allyson Solomon, has become the first Black woman to be promoted to rank of Brigadier General in the Maryland Air National Guard.

"I have far surpassed my ultimate career goal," Gen. Solomon told The District Chronicles. "I thought I would be a major, and retire to the civilian life."

Gen. Solomon took command of the Maryland Branch of the National Guard June 1st. As the General, she watches over more than 1,500 members of the National Guard, 126 of whom are now in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gen. Solomon's journey into military life began when she was born in 1961. Her thirst for law/military service started on her island, where the majority of the men in her family were involved in law enforcement as police officers, including her stepfather.

"I come from a very humble background. I grew up in a working class family," she said.

At the age of 10, she moved to Northeast Baltimore with her family. Later, she attended Loyola College where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in business, and she went on to receive her Master's Degree from Auburn University.

For the past 29 years she has been in The National Guard.  During this time, she has climbed the rankings despite the handicap of being a Black female, in a white-male dominated profession.

According to a poll taken in 2005 based on race and gender, 77% of the members of the National Guard were white, and 15% of the members were Black. Seventy-seven percent of the members were male and 23% were female.

As for her success, Gen. Solomon said: "To me, it's all about attitude. You gotta' show up ready to do something. I don't think most people get up in the morning to fail. I don't see obstacles as hardships, I see them as challenges and opportunities to answer the question of how can I make myself grow," she told The District Chronicles.  "You have to have persistence. There are always going to be negative people in your ear that doubt you, but you have to turn the voice to another channel in your head."

Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown, who chaired the transition team which ultimately selected Solomon as the new Brigadier General of the National Guard, said she has all the tools to be successful.

"She is extremely bright, a visionary, and a great motivator," Lt. Gov. Brown said.  "She has the ability to inspire service members to carry out their missions. She shares the Governor's desire to improve the National Guard."

Continued...

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