BRIGADIER GENERAL CLARA L. ADAMS-ENDER
UNITED STATES ARMY, RETIRED

"Clara Adams-Ender is a dynamic leader and a superb motivational speaker. She brings to her civilian career 34 years of Army service where she excelled as a commander and manager. She knows her stuff."
Colin L. Powell, General, U.S. Army (Ret)
Former Secretary of State, and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff

General Clara L. Adams-Ender was born in Wake County, North Carolina, the fourth oldest of ten children. She received her baccalaureate degree in nursing from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC, a Master of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN a Master of Military Art and Science degree from the Command and General Staff College, Fort Levenworth, KS. She has been awarded eight honorary doctorate degrees in law, public service, humane letters and science.

General Adams-Ender recently completed her memoir "My Rise To the Stars." This inspirational and motivational journal is both a gripping and reflective observation of General Adams-Ender's life experiences.

General Adams-Ender rose from a staff nurse in the army nurse corps to become the chief executive officer for 22,000 nurses, a brigadier general and director of personnel for the army surgeon general. She was the Vice-President for nursing at the prestigious Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the largest health care facility in the Department of Defense and was the first female in the Army to be awarded the Expert Field Medical Badge. General Adams-Ender also commanded an army base, a position equivalent to city manager, magistrate and mayor of a city. She was responsible for a $90 million budget while providing quality customer services to 85 different constituent groups. She is an educator, lecturer, consultant and leader who has given more than 1000 presentations to audiences of health care professionals, community leaders, businessmen and women, lawyers, credit union managers, veterans groups and students both at home and abroad.

General Adams-Ender is President and Chief Executive Officer of Caring About People With Enthusiasm (CAPE) Associates, Inc., a management consulting. The agency specializes in health care management and health care reform, leadership issues, cultural diversity, women in the workplace and conflict management and resolution. She is a charismatic, knowledgeable and inspiring speaker and one never leaves her presence without being impressed by these qualities.

General Clara Adams-Ender was named to the Virginia board of Medicine as a Citizen Member, in 2005. This appointment carries the responsibility of licensing, providing practitioner information, regulating and disciplining of physicians and other health care professionals in the Commonwealth of Virginia. General Adams-Ender is past Chairman, Board of Directors of the Andrews Federal Credit Union, Charter Member, Board of Visitors, U.S. Marine Corps University and a former member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS).

She has received many awards for her community work and service, including the Roy Wilkins Meritorious Service Award from the NAACP, Gertrude E. Rush Award for Leadership from the National Bar Association, Distinguished Service Medal with Oakleaf Cluster and the Regents' Distinguished Graduate Award from the University of Minnesota. She received an honorary doctorate from Bowie State University in 1991. In 1996, she was named by Working Woman Magazine as one of the 350 women who changed the world from 1976 to 1996.

General Adams-Ender resides in Lake Ridge, VA.