Ann M. McDonough

Ann M. McDonough (1915-1995), is a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame and a distinguished member of the corps since her induction in 1988. A staunch supporter and goodwill ambassador for the Military Intelligence Corps, her contribution to the corps began with her military service in 1949.

Enlisted years

Chief Warrant Officer Three McDonough’s career began in 1942 when she entered the civil service. In 1949, she left the civil service to join the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). She received intelligence analyst training and broke the gender barrier by being the first woman assigned to the Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) in 1952. She was later assigned to internal affairs at the Intelligence Center, Fort Holabird, MD. Her professionalism and persistence earned her enrollment as the first female enlisted student in the Counter Intelligence Corps Basic Agents' Course. As a superlative student, she dispelled any doubts about the army's use of female agents and she further distinguished herself by graduating from the course with honors.

She served as a special agent between 1952-55 in the 902d Counter Intelligence Corps Group, Washington, DC. After attending the Army Language School for French in 1956, she again broke new ground by serving in the 66th MI Group as the first female special agent assigned overseas. For the next five years, she completed several covert assignments in East and West Germany, in addition to attending the German Language School in Oberammergau.

Warrant officer years

Upon her return to the United States in 1963, CW3 McDonough was appointed a warrant officer. She again opened new areas to women in the counterintelligence field after her request to attend the Polygraph School was approved. She was the first woman ever to attend this course. She added Vietnamese to her linguistics qualifications and took an assignment in Vietnam with the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, from 1966-68. There she earned a Bronze Star for meritorious service as a polygrapher operating throughout the country. Her long career ended prematurely in 1974 when she retired due to a medical condition. She died in 1995.

Building dedication

On April 19, 2012, the 902nd Military Intelligence Group (United States) new headquarters and Army Counterintelligence Center complex was named Chief Warrant Officer Three Ann M. McDonough Hall. After a process that solicited input from the entire group, the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command historian and the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence historian, the group command team decided to dedicate the new building after CW3 McDonough in honor of her contributions to the Counter Intelligence Corps and her distinguished career.

Awards