WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the American Military Partner Association ( AMPA ), the nation's largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ( LGBT ) military families, announced that Maj. Gen. Patricia "Trish" A. Rose, the highest ranking openly LGBT service member in the U.S. military, will be honored at the inaugural AMPA West Coast Gala on Saturday, September 17, 2016, in San Diego, CA. The incredible event will celebrate the five year anniversary of the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ( DADT ) and the recent end to the military's ban on open service by transgender people.
"We are thrilled to welcome Major General Rose and her wife to our spectacular evening celebrating our incredible progress together as a community," said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack. "As an out and proud lesbian, Major General Rose's exemplary leadership has helped to break down barriers and tear down walls that stood in the way of progress. She is an inspiration to thousands of LGBT service members in every branch of our nation's Armed Forces. We are truly looking forward to honoring her at our AMPA West Coast Gala in San Diego."
Maj. Gen. Rose serves our nation in the Air Force Reserve and is the Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. She supports the Deputy Chief of Staff in leadership, management and integration of Air Force logistics readiness, aircraft and missile maintenance, civil engineering and security forces, as well as setting policy and preparing budget estimates that reflect enhancements to productivity, combat readiness and quality of life for Air Force members.
General Rose entered the Air Force through Officer Training School in 1984. Her more notable assignments include Mobilization Assistant to the Director for Logistics, Engineering, and Security Assistance, U.S. Pacific Command and Mission Director for the U.S. Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center in Southwest Asia, where she directed joint logistics for operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
General Rose lives with her wife, Jules, outside of Seattle, Washington, where she also works for the Naval Hospital Oak Harbor.
The inaugural AMPA West Coast Gala will take place in San Diego, California, on Saturday, September 17, 2016, at the San Diego Sheraton Hotel & Marina. The event comes on the heels of the organization's incredibly successful 3rd Annual National Gala in Washington, DC, this past May, where Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, was honored and gave the keynote address. Tickets and more information can be found at www.MilitaryPartners.org/WestCoastGala
All media wishing to cover the event should rsvp in advance for media credentials to Nick Stone at partners@militarypartners.org
The American Military Partner Association is the nation's largest organization of LGBT military spouses, families, and allies. With over 45,000 members and supporters throughout the country and around the world, AMPA is committed to education, advocacy, and support for our "modern military families."
