Claflin graduate, SC State commissioned officer promoted to U.S. Army brigadier general
December 8, 2017
On Friday, Dec. 1, Darlington, South Carolina native, Twanda Young, was promoted to brigadier general during a ceremony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She is the first female officer, commissioned through SC State University’s ROTC program, to be promoted to general.
Young earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Claflin University and completed the ROTC program at SC State University as a cross-enrollment student. She was named a 1988 Distinguished Military Graduate of SC State University’s ROTC program.
Heavily motivated by the past challenges that surrounded her as a woman and African American leader in the military, Young continued to rise in the ranks of the Army.
A devoted leader, she has served in command and staff positions in the continental U.S. and Hawaii with First Army, Joint Forces Command and the U.S. Army Reserve Command. Young has also served in Afghanistan.
Among her vast accomplishments, she has received several awards including, the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Staff Badge and the Airborne Badge.
Additionally, Young earned a Master of Arts in adult education and a Master of Arts in executive development from Ball State University. She also holds a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
She currently serves as the deputy commanding general for the U.S. Army Human Resources Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
