Steele Chapter Celebrates DiBattiste’s Lifetime of Service

Carol DiBattiste, an AFA Life Member and member of the D.W. Steele Sr. Chapter, received the Chief Justice John Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award on May 7 during the Judge Advocates Association awards dinner. The event was held at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va.

Presented by Lt. Gen. Jack Rives, USAF (Ret.), former Judge Advocate General of the Air Force, the award recognizes former military judge advocates whose service and accomplishments after leaving military law continue to make a lasting national impact.

“I am so honored and humbled to receive this award,” said DiBattiste. “Serving in the Air Force was the best decision of my life, and I am so proud to have served on active duty and later as Under Secretary of the best Air Force in the world.”

DiBattiste’s Air Force career began in 1971 when she enlisted as an accounting and finance specialist. She later served as an Air Force recruiter as both an enlisted member and commissioned officer before becoming a judge advocate in 1981. During her 20 years on active duty, she served as a prosecutor, chief of military justice, circuit prosecutor, instructor at the Air Force JAG School, and chief recruiting attorney at the Pentagon.

Following her Air Force career, DiBattiste continued serving the nation in senior leadership roles across government and industry. In 1999, she became the first former enlisted woman unanimously confirmed by the Senate as Under Secretary of the Air Force, helping lead a global enterprise of more than 700,000 military and civilian personnel.

“Carol DiBattiste represents the very best of AFA.  Her extraordinary career of service, leadership, and mentorship continues to inspire Airmen, Guardians, and future generations considering military service,” said Darian “DJ” Padilla, Steele Chapter President. “The Steele Chapter is proud to call Carol both a Life Member of AFA and one of our own.”