Nursing professor to lead Reserve Organization of America
Peggy Wilmoth, a retired Army major general, was sworn in as ROA national president in October.
Margaret “Peggy” Chamberlain Wilmoth, major general, U.S. Army (retired), and professor at the UNC School of Nursing, was sworn in as the 84th national president of the Reserve Organization of America Oct. 19.
With 40,000 members across the country, ROA is a congressionally chartered organization based in Washington, D.C., advocating for the readiness and welfare of America’s Reserve and National Guard forces. The organization promotes policies that support equipment, training, family care and employment rights for reservists and their families.
Wilmoth brings more than 35 years of military experience to the role. She was the first nurse to command a medical brigade and later served as deputy surgeon general for the Army Reserve in the Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Army.
Her military honors include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service Medal with four oak-leaf clusters.
At the UNC School of Nursing, Wilmoth’s research focuses on health equity for military-affiliated individuals and educational equity for military-connected children. She joined Carolina in 2017 as the inaugural executive vice dean and associate dean for academic affairs and later served as interim dean in 2022.
Wilmoth currently co-chairs the North Carolina Institute of Medicine’s task force on veteran health and served as the 2023-24 distinguished nurse scholar-in-residence at the National Academy of Medicine.
