CPT Emily Lilly serves as the Commander for C Company (Armor), 1-120th Infantry Regiment in Elizabethtown, NC. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2004 with degrees in Political Science and International Studies. She commissioned as an Ordnance Officer in the WVNG in 2014, but re-branched to Armor when combat arms positions were opened to women, becoming the first female Armor officer in the National Guard. She has previously served as a Squadron Maintenance Control Officer, Scout Platoon Leader, Squadron S4 and Brigade Ammunition Officer. She currently works full time for the NCNG as the Brigade Assistant Training Officer for 30th ABCT.
In 2018, she became the first woman in the National Guard and thirteenth woman overall to complete Ranger School, and to date is still the oldest woman to have completed Ranger School at almost 39. She ran a Boston qualifying marathon in 2014, then shifted to strength training in preparation for school. Since completing Ranger School, she has set several World and American powerlifting records while competing in the United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) federation.
She is also enrolled at American Military University, where she is pursuing her Master’s degree in International Relations and Global Security. She is currently writing her thesis, focusing on security integration in Central Asia.