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In 1968, Pamerleau graduated with a degree in [[sociology]] from the University of Wyoming at 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]].<ref name=bio/>

In 1968, Pamerleau graduated with a degree in [[sociology]] from the University of Wyoming at 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]].<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 [[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>

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 disarmament and arms control. 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]]. 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/>

Pamerleau earned various military commendations, including the [[Legion of Merit]], the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.<ref name=univofwy/>  

Pamerleau earned various military commendations, including the Legion of Merit, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.<ref name=univofwy/>  

   

   

In 2010, Pamerleau became the Republican nominee by default for a seat on the [[county commission]] after the death of the party's initial candidate. She gave incumbent [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Tommy Adkisson a strong challenge.<ref name=ggarcia/> Two years later, she unseated Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz, an [[Hispanic]] Democrat who spent most of the general election campaign under attack for the deaths of two police dogs, a tragedy which critics claimed could have been avoided. Ortiz was charged with a staffing crisis at the jail, which he blamed on budget cuts imposed by the five-member Bexar County Commissioners Court headed by [[County Judge]] Nelson Wolff, also a Democrat. Ortiz was accused of using county resources in his campaign. The [[district attorney]] requested that the [[Texas Rangers]] investigate Ortiz. In defeat, Ortiz said that he respected the [[Democracy|democratic process]] but accused Pamerleau of waging a dishonest campaign.<ref name=saen/>

In 2010, Pamerleau became the Republican nominee by default for a seat on the [[county commission]] after the death of the party's initial candidate. She gave incumbent [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Tommy Adkisson a strong challenge.<ref name=ggarcia/> Two years later, she unseated Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz, an [[Hispanic]] Democrat who spent most of the general election campaign under attack for the deaths of two police dogs, a tragedy which critics claimed could have been avoided. Ortiz was charged with a staffing crisis at the jail, which he blamed on budget cuts imposed by the five-member Bexar County Commissioners Court headed by [[County Judge]] Nelson Wolff, also a Democrat. Ortiz was accused of using county resources in his campaign. The [[district attorney]] requested that the [[Texas Rangers]] investigate Ortiz. In defeat, Ortiz said that he respected the [[Democracy|democratic process]] but accused Pamerleau of waging a dishonest campaign.<ref name=saen/>