Brewer (July 1, 1930 – January 2, 2013) was the first woman in the United States Marine Corps to reach general officer rank, which occurred on May 11, 1978.

Brewer received her primary education in Michigan, attending Ryno School in Clayton Township, Genesee County in 1936.

[3] She later graduated from the Catholic High School in Baltimore, Maryland, prior to entering the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Her first assignment was at the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, where she served as a communications watch officer until June 1953.

[citation needed] By 1966, she was the Public Affairs Officer for the 6th Marine Corps District, Atlanta, Georgia as lieutenant colonel.

She was appointed to that grade and assumed duty as Director of Information on May 11, 1978, at which time she became the first female general officer in the United States Marine Corps.