Julia Jeter Cleckley

Brigadier General (Ret) Cleckley inspires and entertains diverse audiences speaking on topics relating to Education, Women's History, Leadership, Black History, Survivoring Challenges, Diversity, Breaking the Glass Ceiling and Mentoring just to name a few. She is a nationally recognized and accomplished keynote speaker who has appeared at hundreds of events ranging from conferences to graduations. An educator and human resources manager by trade General Cleckley was the first African American female officer to be promoted to a Brigadier General of the line in the Army National Guard. She was also the first African-American woman to be promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Army National Guard's Active Guard Reserve program and the first woman to be assigned as a Division Chief and later the Chief Human Resources Officer / G-1 within the Army Directorate at the National Guard Bureau.

She serves as a Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee member, and is charged with providing advice to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on administration of benefits and services for minority veterans. She is a former chair member of the Army National Guard Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Committee. She developed a Diversity Program, which includes mentoring for over 350,000 soldiers and civilians. She is a founding member of the Alexandria City Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction; a national organization that often partners with other groups to improve communities, with a focus on women's issues, youth and our senior citizens. She is the recipient of many honors to include the Distinguished Service Medal and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Roy Wilkins Renowned Service Award, identified in Cambrige Who's Who Honors Edition 2007 and is a member of the Hunter College Hall of Fame.

Julia Cleckley is a pioneer, leader, coach, educator, mentor and survivor, who is remarkably successful at empowering and inspiring individuals to reach their potential.