Pernambuco doctor colonel Claudia Lima Gusmão Cacho is expected to be the first woman to reach the generalship of the Brazilian Army as of March 31st. Her name was nominated by the institution for the position of brigadier general and must be confirmed by President Lula. 
The Army, which recognizes the appointment as an institutional milestone, is the last of the three armed forces to promote a woman to the generalship.
In the Navy, Dalva Maria Carvalho reached rear admiral (two stars) in 2012, while Carla Lyrio Martins, in the Air Force, was promoted to brigadier in 2020 and brigadier major in 2023. She was the only woman to reach three stars. Both are doctors.
The highest rank in the three forces is symbolized by four stars. No woman has been promoted to this level to date.
Trajectory
According to the Army, the officer appointed brigadier general joined the institution in 1996 as a temporary officer, in the then 42nd Motorized Infantry Battalion, based in Goiânia (GO).
Two years later, she entered a career competition and entered the Army Health School.
“Over almost three decades of service, he built a solid trajectory in the area of operational and hospital health,” the Army said in a statement.
Among his positions, he has already directed the Natal Garnição Hospital (RN) and the Campo Grande Area Military Hospital (MS).
In addition to the new development at the top of the career ladder, the year 2026 also includes the presence of women at the bottom. More than a thousand women will join as soldiers next week (March 2) after 33,720 women enlist nationwide.
