The U.S. Department of Defense has announced, that President George W. Bush has nominated Colonel Loree K. Sutton (47), a Seventh-day Adventist, for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Colonel Sutton, a psychiatrist by training, is commander of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort. Hood, Texas. She assumed command of the center in July 2005.

"Colonel Sutton would be the first female Adventist to ever obtain that rank," said Gary Councell, associate director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries located at the Adventist world church headquarters in Silver Spring. He added, "Only 8 percent of people ever make colonel and out of all the general officers less than 1 percent make it to brigadier general."

Sutton holds a medical degree from Adventist-owned Loma Linda University and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Pacific Union College, also Adventist owned. Colonel Sutton has received numerous awards including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Order of Military Merit and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. She has served in a variety of operational positions both in the states-side and overseas.