Fort Knox gets first woman commanding general

For the first time in Fort Knox’s 96-year history, a female commanding general is taking charge of the military base near Louisville.

Brig. Gen. Peggy Combs, a former deputy commander at the U.S. Army Cadet Command, took command Tuesday in a base ceremony, military officials said.

She replaces Maj. Gen. Jeff Smith, commanding general of U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, who is become deputy chief of staff for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Combs, who has 30 years of military experience, previously served as the commandant of the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. She also spent time at Fort Knox.

Neither Smith nor Combs were available for comment Wednesday.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20140306/NEWS01/303060099/Fort-Knox-gets-first-female-commanding-general