Retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Phyllis J. Wilson will soon become the new president of the Women in Military Service for America Foundation, succeeding retired Army Maj. Gen. Dee Ann McWilliams, the foundation announced Aug. 14.

The change will take effect Sept. 1.

Retired Army Maj. Gen. Jan Edmunds, the foundation’s chair of the board, said Wilson brings a “forward-looking perspective and energy” to the presidency. “An accomplished, inclusive leader, Chief Wilson has the experience in nonprofit operations, community outreach and visionary leadership to lead our thriving and unique foundation towards a bright future,” Edmunds said.

Wilson is a member of the Association of the U.S. Army Council of Trustees and a senior fellow at AUSA’s Institute of Land Warfare. She also is a member of the Army Women’s Foundation board of directors. She retired after 37 years of active and reserve service, including more than seven years at the U.S. Special Operations Command where she was a senior intelligence analyst.

“Phyllis is an inspirational leader who will further connect military women—and men—to recognize and celebrate women’s contributions to uniformed service,” said retired Army Lt. Gen. Patricia E. McQuistion, AUSA’s vice president of membership and meetings. Wilson is “a perfect choice” to follow McWilliams, who became president in 2016, and retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught, the founding president and now president emeritus of the foundation, McQuistion said.

Retired Gen. Carter F. Ham, AUSA’s president and CEO, said Wilson “is the perfect choice to lead WIMSA into the future. She’s an inspiring leader of great vision and a superb team builder who has earned wide respect across the armed forces and veteran communities,” said Ham, who also praised the “incredible accomplishments of Dee Ann McWilliams.”

WIMSA, a charitable nonprofit, operates the Women’s Memorial at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery. Dedicated in 1997, it is the only national memorial honoring women of all branches of the service. It showcases memorabilia of U.S. military women from the American Revolution to today, with permanent and rotating exhibits.