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'''Sheri Susan Lewellyn Pamerleau''' (born 1946) is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[sheriff]] of populous Bexar County, [[Texas]]. The winner of the [[general election]] held on November 6, 2012, she is the first woman elected to the position.  

'''Sheri Susan Lewellyn Pamerleau''' (born 1946) is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[sheriff]] of populous Bexar County, [[Texas]]. The winner of the [[general election]] held on November 6, 2012, she is the first woman elected to the position.  

Pamerleau describes herself as a "a tough, decisive leader who works tirelessly to protect every citizen in Bexar County,"<ref name=bio/> which encompasses [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]], the second largest Texas city in population and the seventh most populated city in the [[United States]]. Pamerleau downplayed her having become the first woman elected sheriff of her county: "This isn't about being a woman. This is about getting a job done and focusing on a mission."<ref name=saen>{{cite web|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Pamerleau-makes-history-as-first-female-elected-4014096.php|title=Pamerleau makes history as first female elected sheriff|author=         

Pamerleau describes herself as a "a tough, decisive leader who works tirelessly to protect every citizen in Bexar County,"<ref name=bio/> which encompasses [[San Antonio]], the second largest Texas city in population and the seventh most populated city in the [[United States]]. Pamerleau downplayed her having become the first woman elected sheriff of her county: "This isn't about being a woman. This is about getting a job done and focusing on a mission."<ref name=saen>{{cite web|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Pamerleau-makes-history-as-first-female-elected-4014096.php|title=Pamerleau makes history as first female elected sheriff|author=         

Nolan Hicks and Michelle Mondo|date=November 7, 2012|publisher=''[[San Antonio Express-News]]''|accessdate=October 6, 2015}}</ref>

Nolan Hicks and Michelle Mondo|date=November 7, 2012|publisher=''[[San Antonio Express-News]]''|accessdate=October 6, 2015}}</ref>

==Background==

==Background==

Pamerleau's mother (name missing) was reared in [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]] in eastern [[Tennessee]], where her parents owned a [[grocery store]] near the downtown area. Her father (name also missing) was reared on a [[tobacco]] farm near [[Winston-Salem]], [[North Carolina]]. Her parents met at church while he was studying for the ministry at a small [[Bible]] college near Knoxville. After graduation, the couple wed and moved west to [[Oklahoma]], where Susan and her brother, Michael (full name missing), were born. Diagnosed in the 1960s with [[bipolar disorder]], Michael died when he was struck on the street by an automobile.<ref name=univofwy>{{cite web|url=http://www.uwyo.edu/uwyo/2013/15-1/giving.html|title=A Lifetime of Dedicated Service: Sheriff Susan Lewellyn Pamerleau, Major General (Ret.)|publisher=[[University of Wyoming]]|date=September 2013|accessdate=October 6, 2015}}</ref> The family lived in several small Oklahoma communities before relocating in 1949 to the capital city of [[Oklahoma City]], then in the latter 1950s in [[Albuquerque]], [[New Mexico]], and in the 1960s to [[Casper, Wyoming|Casper]], [[Wyoming]].<ref name=bio/> Her parents were married for sixty years.<ref name=ggarcia/>

Pamerleau's mother (name missing) was reared in [[Knoxville]] in eastern [[Tennessee]], where her parents owned a [[grocery store]] near the downtown area. Her father (name also missing) was reared on a [[tobacco]] farm near [[Winston-Salem]], [[North Carolina]]. Her parents met at church while he was studying for the ministry at a small [[Bible]] college near Knoxville. After graduation, the couple wed and moved west to [[Oklahoma]], where Susan and her brother, Michael (full name missing), were born. Diagnosed in the 1960s with [[bipolar disorder]], Michael died when he was struck on the street by an automobile.<ref name=univofwy>{{cite web|url=http://www.uwyo.edu/uwyo/2013/15-1/giving.html|title=A Lifetime of Dedicated Service: Sheriff Susan Lewellyn Pamerleau, Major General (Ret.)|publisher=University of Wyoming|date=September 2013|accessdate=October 6, 2015}}</ref> The family lived in several small Oklahoma communities before relocating in 1949 to the capital city of [[Oklahoma City]], then in the latter 1950s in [[Albuquerque]], [[New Mexico]], and in the 1960s to [[Casper, Wyoming|Casper]], [[Wyoming]].<ref name=bio/> Her parents were married for sixty years.<ref name=ggarcia/>

In 1968, Pamerleau graduated with a degree in [[sociology]] from the [[University of Wyoming]] at [[Laramie, Wyoming|Laramie]]. In 2009, she was named an Outstanding Alumna of the UW College of Arts and Sciences; she also sits on the UW Foundation Board. In 1978, she received a [[Master of Public Administration]] degree from Golden Gate University in [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]], [[California]]. In 1998, [[Phillips University]] in [[Enid, Oklahoma|Enid]], [[Oklahoma]], affiliated with the [[Disciples of Chris)]], awarded her an honorary doctorate. A member of that denomination, Pamerleau is also a trustee of Phillips University. She further studied at the [[Wharton School]] of the [[University of Pennsylvania]] in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], the [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]] at [[Harvard University]] in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]], and the Kellogg School of Management at [[Northwestern University]] in [[Evanston, Illinois|Evanston]], [[Illinois]].<ref name=bio/>

In 1968, Pamerleau graduated with a degree in [[sociology]] from the University of Wyoming at [[Laramie, Wyoming|Laramie]]. In 2009, she was named an Outstanding Alumna of the UW College of Arts and Sciences; she also sits on the UW Foundation Board. In 1978, she received a Master of Public Administration degree from Golden Gate University in [[San Francisco]], [[California]]. In 1998, Phillips University in Enid, [[Oklahoma]], affiliated with the [[Disciples of Christ]], awarded her an honorary doctorate. A member of that denomination, Pamerleau is also a trustee of Phillips University. She further studied at the [[Wharton School]] of the [[University of Pennsylvania]] in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], the [[Kennedy School of Government]] at [[Harvard University]] in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]], and the Kellogg School of Management at [[Northwestern University]] in [[Evanston, Illinois|Evanston]], [[Illinois]].<ref name=bio/>

=Career==

=Career==

Pamerleau served for thirty-two years as an officer in the [[United States Air Force]], in which she attained the rank of [[major general]]. When she entered the Air Force, only 1.2 percent of personnel were female. She spent her early military service in support operations before she was assigned to [[The Pentagon]] in [[Arlington, Virginia|Arlington]], [[Virginia]], where she worked for base realignment and closure. She represented the United States in [[Brussells]], [[Belgium]], at the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]], for which she was an advisor on nuclear policy, strategic and force planning, and [[arms control]] and [[disarmament]]. She served in personnel management in [[Washington, D.C.]], and commanded the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at [[Maxwell Air Force Base]] in the capital city of [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], [[Alabama]]. She came to San Antonio as commander of the Air Force Personnel Center at [[Randolph Air Force Base]]. She is a former trustee of the [[Arnold Air Society]].<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://sheriffsusan.com/about-2/|title=About Sheriff Susan Pamerleau|publisher=sheriffsusan.com|accessdate=October 5, 2015}}</ref>

Pamerleau served for thirty-two years as an officer in the [[United States Air Force]], in which she attained the rank of [[major general]]. When she entered the Air Force, only 1.2 percent of personnel were female. She spent her early military service in support operations before she was assigned to [[The Pentagon]] in [[Arlington, Virginia|Arlington]], [[Virginia]], where she worked for base realignment and closure. She represented the United States in [[Brussels, Belgium|Brussels]], [[Belgium]], at the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]], for which she was an advisor on nuclear policy, strategic and force planning, and [[arms control]] and [[disarmament]]. She served in personnel management in [[Washington, D.C.]], and commanded the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Maxwell Air Force Base in the capital city of [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], [[Alabama]]. She came to San Antonio as commander of the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base. She is a former trustee of the Arnold Air Society.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://sheriffsusan.com/about-2/|title=About Sheriff Susan Pamerleau|publisher=sheriffsusan.com|accessdate=October 5, 2015}}</ref>

   

   

As she was progressing from the rank of [[lieutenant]] to [[Captain]], she faced harassment from her husband of eight years, Ben (full name missing), who was some fifteen years her senior, had eight children from a previous marriage, completed three tours of duty in the [[Vietnam War]], and was thereafter an enlisted man in the [[United States Army]]. After she left him in May 1978, for fear that her life was in danger, he shot himself to death in the head with his pistol. At the time she was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Florida]], but also enrolled in graduate study in California.<ref name=ggarcia>{{cite web|url= http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Domestic-abuse-shapes-sheriff-candidate-s-outlook-3991576.php|title=Domestic abuse shapes sheriff candidate's outlook|author=Gilbert Garcia|date=October 30, 2012|publisher=''San Antonio Express-News''|accessdate=October 6, 2015}}</ref><ref name=samag>{{cite web|url=http://www.sanantoniomag.com/SAM/February-2013/Lady-and-the-Law/|title=Lady and the Law: Susan Pamerleau may be the most surprising sheriff Bexar County has ever had. How she plans to use her formidable résumé—and her wrenching past—to make San Antonio safer|author=Lynn Freehill|publisher=''San Antonio Magazine''|date=February 2013|accessdate=October 5, 2015}}</ref> Pamerleau said that her personal life makes her particularly aware of domestic violence and crime prevention issues: "I thank [[God]] every day I'm alive. Because of that experience, I feel I have a responsibility to help others."<ref name=samag/>

As she was progressing from the rank of [[lieutenant]] to [[Captain]], she faced harassment from her husband of eight years, Ben (full name missing), who was some fifteen years her senior, had eight children from a previous marriage, completed three tours of duty in the [[Vietnam War]], and was thereafter an enlisted man in the [[United States Army]]. After she left him in May 1978, for fear that her life was in danger, he shot himself to death in the head with his pistol. At the time she was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Florida]], but also enrolled in graduate study in California.<ref name=ggarcia>{{cite web|url= http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Domestic-abuse-shapes-sheriff-candidate-s-outlook-3991576.php|title=Domestic abuse shapes sheriff candidate's outlook|author=Gilbert Garcia|date=October 30, 2012|publisher=''San Antonio Express-News''|accessdate=October 6, 2015}}</ref><ref name=samag>{{cite web|url=http://www.sanantoniomag.com/SAM/February-2013/Lady-and-the-Law/|title=Lady and the Law: Susan Pamerleau may be the most surprising sheriff Bexar County has ever had. How she plans to use her formidable résumé—and her wrenching past—to make San Antonio safer|author=Lynn Freehill|publisher=''San Antonio Magazine''|date=February 2013|accessdate=October 5, 2015}}</ref> Pamerleau said that her personal life makes her particularly aware of domestic violence and crime prevention issues: "I thank [[God]] every day I'm alive. Because of that experience, I feel I have a responsibility to help others."<ref name=samag/>