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Mara Campbell Boggs
State Director and Deputy Chief of Staff , U . S . Senator Joe Manchin
PAIGE UDERMANN
Photo by Marcus Constantino Photography .
THE TERM HERO is reserved for those who have accomplished great feats with bravery and are distinguished by noble traits and dedication toward the common good . Mara Campbell Boggs , state director and deputy chief of staff for U . S . Senator Joe Manchin , has undeniably earned that title .
Growing up in Keyser , WV , Boggs ’ childhood was family centered and filled with outdoor activities and public service . She enlisted in the Army at 18 and became an officer at 21 after graduating from WVU with distinguished military honors . She then served for more than 13 years in the Army on active duty , primarily in combat units and in Iraq . Her service ended with a competitive congressional fellowship program .
She has held leadership positions throughout her entire career and , in the Army , often found herself as either the first or only woman in these roles , such as being the first woman commander of her engineer company in the 82nd Airborne Division . She deployed with her unit to Iraq for 15 months during the surge where they performed over 800 direct combat
96 WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE