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Moving Up: Wilkes native makes history
Jennifer Harris is the first woman promoted to the rank of major in the 79-year history of the N.C. Highway Patrol.
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Published: September 9, 2008
WILKESBORO
A Wilkes County native yesterday became the first woman promoted to the rank of major in the 79-year history of the N.C. Highway Patrol.
Jennifer Harris, 42, is the new training commander at the Highway Patrol's headquarters in Raleigh. She'll oversee training for new troopers, as well as other training for the agency's more than 1,800 troopers and other employees.
She is one of only five majors in the Highway Patrol, said Patty McQuillan, a spokeswoman for the agency.
Major is the third-highest rank that troopers can attain.
Harris had most recently been commander of a nine-county Highway Patrol district based in Greensboro.
In her first day at her new post in Raleigh, she met the staff of about 40 people, spoke to trainees in the patrol academy, moved files into her new office and handled other tasks.
She'll be part of a promotion ceremony Sept. 17, but her promotion was effective yesterday.
Harris is the daughter of Julius "JD" and Judy Harris, who raised tobacco and cattle when she was growing up on the family farm in Thurmond, in northeastern Wilkes County. Her father had grown up farming and taught his daughters to hoe the plants, bunch them and hang them in the barn.
"He learned to work hard and he put that in us," Harris said. "He had three girls and worked us like boys…. I don't think I'll ever work as hard laborwise as I did growing up on a farm."
Her father said that wasn't enough work for her, adding that she would get up early in the spring to mow the grass before she went to school.
"We're really proud of her," he said. "She's worked hard."
Harris graduated from North Wilkes High School, and went to the Air Force Academy Preparatory School before graduating from Appalachian State in 1989. Though she didn't make a career of the military, she said that her Air Force experience and the sense of professionalism there led her toward public service.
She joined the Highway Patrol two weeks after graduating from ASU. A professor had suggested that the agency could offer her good experience.
"It led me to an awesome career," she said.
Harris was the only female in her class at patrol school in 1989. When she went out on the road in her first assignment patrolling Iredell County, there were five female troopers in the state. There are 41 female troopers now.
She was named the Highway Patrol's first female captain in 2006.
■ Monte Mitchell can be reached in Wilkesboro at 336-667-5691 or at mmitchell@wsjournal.com.
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