News

The public is invited to attend Southwestern Michigan College’s Tuesday, April 14, Academic Speaker Series featuring women in the U.S. military to commemorate the nation’s 250^th anniversary.

The 6 p.m. program takes place in the theatre of the Dale A. Lyons Building on SMC’s Dowagiac campus.

Questions and answers follow the presentation by Chief Warrant Officer Five (CW5) (Retired) Rhea R. Pruett of Caledonia and Jackson College Professor of History Laura Ritchie, Michigan State Ambassadors for the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Ritchie, completing her Ph.D. in history from Liberty University, combines her passion for historical scholarship with a deep commitment to preserving and sharing the stories of those who served.

As a Michigan State Ambassador for the Military Women’s Memorial, Ritchie works to honor and celebrate the contributions of women in the military throughout American history.

In her role, she raises awareness of the often-overlooked stories of service and sacrifice by military women, ensuring their legacy is recognized and remembered by future generations.

Pruett, born in Bakkeveen, Friesland the Netherlands, came to Michigan with her family in December 1956, when she was 14 months old. She became a U.S. citizen at 17.

Pruett possesses a bachelor’s degree in business management from Davenport University and is a graduate of the U.S. Army’s Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course.

She finished high school in 1973 and began her military career in April 1974 with her enlistment into the Michigan Army National Guard.

Pruett completed basic training at Fort McClellan, Ala., as a member of the U.S. Women’s Army Corps (WAC) with follow-on training at Fort Ord, Calif., as a personnel records clerk.

From January 1975 through April 1978, she was on active duty with the U.S. Army, serving at Fort Carson, Colo., and at Nelligan Kaserne, Germany.

She returned to the Michigan Army National Guard in May 1978, continuing her duties as a military personnel sergeant.

 On Oct. 22, 1980, she received a direct appointment to Warrant Officer One. She served in a variety of military assignments throughout her career supporting soldiers and their families.

She had the opportunity to participate in leadership visits to Latvia, Germany, Bosnia and Afghanistan.

A key success of Pruett’s career was her selection on Feb. 1, 2002, as the second State Command Chief Warrant Officer for the Michigan Army National Guard — a key leadership position held until her retirement.

Pruett was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer Five on Oct. 27, 1999, with the distinction of being the first female soldier in Michigan to attain this rank. She has the added distinction of being the first female soldier in the U.S. Army to be selected for the position of Command Chief Warrant Officer.

Pruett retired from the Michigan Army National Guard on Feb. 1, 2014, with 39 years and nine months of military service.

She received many military awards in her career with the highest being the Federal Legion of Merit.

From January 2016 until December 2021, Pruett was the Assistant President for Veterans Affairs for the United States Army Warrant Officer Association (USAWOA).

In May 2022, she was appointed as Michigan’s Ambassador for the Military Women’s Memorial.

She and her husband, Col. (Retired) Ray Pruett, have a daughter, Becky.