Colonel Mary L. Franklin was commissioned as a Transportation Officer upon graduating Officer Candidate School in 1980 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Her first duty assignment was as an Executive Officer and Platoon Leader in the 119th Transportation Company and in the 24th Transportation Battalion. | Her subsequent duty assignments include: Staff Officer in the Initiatives Group for the Office of the Chief of Staff for Operations - Army G3; Commander of the 25th Movement Control Battalion, Yongsan, Korea; Staff Officer for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics - Army G4; Inspector General Representative for the Department of Defense Inspector General, Arlington, Virginia; Division Transportation Officer, 2nd Infantry, Korea; Operations Officer-Executive Services; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; S1/Adjutant, 28th Transportation Battalion, Mannheim, Germany; Commander, 109th Transportation, Schinnen, Netherlands; Movement Control Officer, 24th Transportation Battalion, Fort Eustis, Virginia; Director of Strategic Plans, Studies and War Gaming, Military Sealift Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. | Her military awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit w/ Oak Leaf Cluster; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Achievement Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters; Office of the Secretary of Defense Badge; and the Army Staff Badge. | Colonel Franklin retired from the U.S. Army in 2008.