Sally Ann Weeks Benson (b. 1947) of Dunn, North Carolina, served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1981-2002. Sally Ann Weeks Benson was born 26 January 1947 in Aiken, South Carolina, moved to Coats, North Carolina when she was two, and then to Dunn, North Carolina at age three. She graduated from high school in spring 1965, and began courses at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) the following fall. While at UNCG, she witnessed on campus demonstrations against the Vietnam War, and was a chemistry lab assistant her senior year. She graduated in 1969 with a bachelor of science in apparel design. After graduation, Benson began work at Hudson Belk Department Store in Raleigh, where she was employed for eleven years. In this time, she was first a department manager, then a section manager, and eventually assistant store manager. She also became a member of the American Management Association. At age twenty-seven, Benson attempted to join the United States Air Force but was told she was too old for entry. Seven years later in May 1981, at age thirty-four, Benson joined the U.S. Navy, and was sworn in on 5 June. On 1 July 1981, Benson reported for Officer Candidate School at Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island, after which she entered Surface Warfare Officers School at the same location. She began work in the Curriculum and Instructional Standards Office, and assisted with implementing significant changes to course evaluations. She also worked as a base escort officer for visiting admirals. In 1984, Benson was assigned to the nuclear submarine repair facility at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, a nuclear submarine depot. She was division officer over ship superintendents tasked with ship repair, daytime repair duty officer, command duty officer, and the first female officer assigned to a nuclear repair facility. There she met her husband, Eric, a detailer for engineering duty officers. From 1986 to 1989, Benson was stationed at Naval Station Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay, California, working as flag secretary for the admiral, writing his speeches and letters. In July 1989, Benson was assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel, or BUPERS, in Arlington, Virginia, where she was head of the section processing officers for separation based on misconduct and substandard performance. She was also tasked with standing duty in the Military Personnel Command Center. In May 1992, Benson reported for duty at Naval Air Station Alameda in California, and began work as the executive officer for Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity, or SIMA, a surface ship repair facility. While stationed here, Benson administered a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator testing initiative to the staff, which resulted in an improved working environment. She also received promotion to lieutenant commander. In June 1994, Benson received orders for command at United States Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan. When she arrived, there was an ongoing drought and water rationing, so in August, with the assistance of marines, Benson installed reverse osmosis water purification units, or ROWPUs, and helped drill a well in the event of future droughts. She also had the opportunity to work directly with the Nagasaki Prefecture police and the city administrative officer. These interactions helped build partnerships on the local level. On 9 August 1995, the fiftieth anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki by the U.S., Benson served as a representative of the United States and attended the commemoration ceremony on behalf of President William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton. In June 1996, Benson reported to U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, with the goal of becoming a junior specialty officer. She served as section leader, with four staff groups reporting to her, had the opportunity to take top secret level courses, and received education on combined operations. She was also promoted to commander while at Fort Leavenworth. From 1997 to 2000, Benson was stationed at Joint Forces Staff College at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., working in the Manpower and Personnel Division, as well as the National Military Command Center, handling personnel pay issues. In 2000, she received orders for command at the Navy Technical Training Center at Naval Air Station Meridian in Mississippi, where she trained incoming sailors in logistic-type jobs. She retired from the U.S. Navy in 2002.
