The U.S. Senate confirmed on Nov. 10 the Defense Secretary's nomination of long-time Homewood, Ala. resident and Shades Valley High School graduate Brigadier General (P) N. Lee S. Price to Major General.
Price, the daughter of Homewood resident Phyllis Sherk and the late Maurice D. Sherk, was born in Jacksonville, Fla. but grew up in Birmingham, Ala. She later returned to Florida and is a resident of Tampa today.
"Tampa is paradise," she said. "It is a fairly small town feel but has everything: professional sports, the beach, culture, great music and all wrapped up with best weather around for most of the year."
Price, who has celebrated numerous "firsts" in her almost 36-year career in the Army, became the first female Program Executive Officer for the Army in November 2009 when she took her current assignment as the Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications -- Tactical.
In this position she has overall responsibility of approximately $4 billion annually to develop, acquire, and field the communications, computers, generators and specialized applications to the tactical army.
In July 2008, Price became the first female in the Army Acquisition Corps to be nominated to the rank of Brigadier General. She also was the first woman selected to general officer while serving in a special operations unit.
Price's penchant for teamwork first surfaced when she played team sports as a child. Teamwork became engrained in her lifelong philosophy, which she continues to stress to the women she mentors today.
"For me, it has always been about the team," Price said. "I truly believe that if you take care of people, then the people will take care of the mission. The mission comes first and it is the number one thing that we are judged by. But it takes people -- the Army is people."
Price's roots have always remained planted in the Army's seven Core Values - loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.
"It is the Core Values that got us here, so we have been able to build off of that successfully for our entire career," she said. "I can tell you that every General Officer has this in common: it's not about us, it's about what we can do in the position, the lives we can touch and how we can enrich Soldiers' lives, so they can go on to greater service."
Price's awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Bronze Star, numerous meritorious and achievement medals, and a Combat Action Badge. BG Price was also inducted into the Alabama Business and Professional Women's Foundation Academy of Honor in 2009.
**Note: Until commencement of the official promotion ceremony, Associated Press Style indicates that Price would be referred to as Brig. Gen. (P) N. Lee S. Price.
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