MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER – As a young girl, Brig. Gen. Sheila Baxter lived for basketball and family, but shied away from the spotlight that so often found her.
Decades later, she continues to capture attention as one of the most influential women in the military, becoming the first female general in the Medical Service Corps and commanding one of the Army’s largest health care centers at Fort Lewis.
Tall and slender, the soft-spoken Baxter remains modest about her achievements, crediting her strong spiritual beliefs and support from her parents.
“They made it easy for us to get an education, they knew the value of working hard and instilling in us just being a good person, treating people with dignity and respect,” said Baxter, 51 and the middle child of five siblings.
Her military career happened somewhat unexpectedly when, at 21, she traveled with a cousin to visit the woman’s husband who was a captain stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C.
“The light bulb came on. It was a lot of camaraderie and morale, team building,” said Baxter.
She returned to Virginia State College and joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
At the time, most of the women Baxter knew were either continuing their education, becoming businesswomen or staying home to raise families. She was one of only three women in the ROTC program.
The challenge was not new to Baxter, who in 1972 became the first black homecoming queen elected at her high school in Franklin, Va. It was shortly after desegregation and surprised school officials counted the votes twice.
“I think it shocked the people. But they were on our side, they were happy,” she said.
Few women opted for military service then, but Baxter found she mingled easily with the guys. Her athletic ability and having grown up playing basketball with her male cousins helped.
“It wasn’t really a transitional problem for me,” she said. “I knew what I wanted to do.”
Baxter’s focus and determination helped propel her military career – she was recommended for major a year before she was eligible. She’s served three tours in Germany, one in Korea and a deployment in Iraq during the Gulf War.
Her 28 years in the Army have been one of the most engaging, influential experiences of her life, she said, and have enabled her to continue serving and training soldiers.
“That’s what attracts me today and that’s what keeps me going,” she said.
Baxter maintains a hectic schedule, juggling multiple jobs.
Along with commanding Madigan, Baxter is also responsible for Western Regional Medical Command, which covers active-duty, National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers in six states: Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Nevada and California.
Baxter also makes time to mentor several young adults, whether they come to her at work or in her personal life.
She benefited from mentors – parents, teachers, coaches and commanders – who helped guide her through a successful career. Now she’s eager to pass on her knowledge and experiences, as well as what she gleaned from those who counseled her.
“I just think everyone should have that opportunity to have a mentor early on in your life,” Baxter said. “They’re feeding you values. They’re feeding you wisdom.”
When she does grab some spare time, she admits to a fascination with watching bull riding. But mostly she spends it feeding her appetite for books, many of which mingle with family photos and military awards on the mahogany bookshelves in her office. She’s currently reading seven books – all on leadership.
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