There are women whose courage reshapes institutions. There are women whose truth reshapes hearts. Colonel Sheri A. Swokowski has done both, with quiet grace, unwavering integrity, and a patriot’s heart that never stopped beating for justice, even when her country struggled to understand her. Sheri is the highest-ranking openly transgender veteran in the United States Army. Over nearly 35 years of distinguished service, she rose from the enlisted ranks to the rank of Colonel in the Infantry, a place where few women, and no openly transgender women before her, had stood. Her journey was marked by leadership, resilience, and sacrifice. After retiring from the military, she continued her service to the nation in civilian roles at the Pentagon and the U.S. Forest Service, and later became a powerful voice for transgender rights and inclusive policy, working alongside allies such as Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin.
But behind the impressive résumé is a woman who made the hardest decision of her life in her fifties: to finally live authentically. The cost was steep, relationships, career opportunities, and the comfort of familiarity. Yet in embracing her truth, Sheri found joy, strength, and a new mission: to ensure that others like her could serve and live with dignity. Whether wearing her female Infantry officer uniform at the White House Pride reception, mentoring younger trans women, or volunteering tirelessly with organizations like the ACLU and Fair Wisconsin, Sheri has never stopped marching forward. In every room she enters, she carries not just her story, but the hopes of countless others still finding the courage to live theirs. It is my honor to share this conversation with a woman whose journey exemplifies grace under fire, authenticity against the odds, and the enduring power of truth. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Colonel Sheri Swokowski.
