Retired Army officer to speak at SC State Veterans Appreciation Program on Nov. 7

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – South Carolina State University will conduct its annual Veterans Appreciation Program beginning at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium on campus.

The public is invited. SC State honors veterans each year on or around Veterans Day, which is commemorated each year on Nov. 11.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Rhonda L. McRae, an SC State alumna, will deliver the keynote address.

The program also will include remarks by SC State President Alexander Conyers, who is a retired Army colonel, and Dr. Lakeisa Tucker, acting dean of the SC State College of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Lt. Col. Antonio Pittman, professor of military science, and Bulldog Battalion ROTC cadets will conduct a candle lighting and wreath ceremony. The SC State Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Johnnie Felder will perform the National Anthem and other musical selections.

About Retired Army Lt. Col. Rhonda L. McRae

McRae was born and raised in Lancaster, South Carolina. She graduated from Lancaster High School in 1999 and from SC State in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in computer science.

She was commissioned into the Army as a second lieutenant in the Chemical Corps and stationed at Camp Stanley, Korea, where she served as the battalion chemical officer, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment.

Upon completion of her tour, she completed the Signal Officer Branch Qualification Course at Fort Gordon and served as the area node platoon leader for Charlie Company, 67th Signal Battalion, 93rd Signal Brigade.

McRae has served in a variety of leadership positions including platoon leader, company commander, GS plans and operations chief, brigade S6, observer controller, and signal advisor.

McRae was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Resolute Support. Her last assignment was G6 plans and operations chief for U.S. Army Central (USARCENT). She retired from the Army on Aug. 31, 2023.

McRae’s military education includes the Chemical Officer Basic Course, Signal Officer Qualification Course, the Signal Captains Career Course, the Battalion S6 Course, the Observer Controller Academy, and the Military Advisor Training Academy.

Her awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (four oak leaf clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the NATO Medal.

McRae has one daughter, Kiana, 18. The family resides in Sumter, South Carolina.