By W&G Staff

Maj. Rhonda L. Bright, an international pistol shooter with the U.S. Army Reserve, has distinguished herself in competitive marksmanship through her many accomplishments. This Spring she took third place at the All-Army Small Arms Championships and received her Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge, making her triple distinguished.
Bright received the International Distinguished Badge and the Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 1997; only 14 Soldiers are triple distinguished, having received all three badges.

Raised in Farmingdale, NY, Bright graduated from Farmingdale High School in 1982. Maj. Rhonda Bright is Triple Distinguished

She received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the US Military Academy at West Point, NY, in 1986 and received a master's degree in human resource management from Troy State University at Fort Benning, GA, in 1998.

After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1986, Bright was assigned to the 55th Engineer Company at Fort Riley, Kan. In 1988, she was assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. In 1993, Bright left the Army Marksmanship Unit to attend the Engineer Officers Advanced Course at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and then returned to the Marksmanship Unit. She left active duty in March 1998 and returned to the Marksmanship Unit in December 1998 under the World Class Athlete Program. She left the Marksmanship Unit in 2000 and joined the 81st Regional Support Command in Birmingham, Ala., of the U.S. Army Reserve. She is currently assigned to the Small Arms Readiness Group.

She is a graduate of Engineer Officers Advanced Course, Fort Leavenworth; Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, and US Army Inspector General School.

Bright has received two Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Superior Unit Award (2001), International Distinguished Badge (1997), Distinguished Rifleman Badge (1997) and Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge (2006).

Bright, who started shooting rifle in 1974 and pistol in 1991, has numerous marksmanship accomplishments. The following are some highlights over the course of her career.

• 2001 CISM Pistol Team Member.
• 2000 & 1999 Interservice Sport Pistol Champion (Set Interservice Record) & 2000 Interservice Air Pistol Champion.
• 1999 Pan-American Games Team Member
• 1998 World Championship & World Cup Team Member.
• 1998, 1995 & 1993 Air Pistol National Champion.
• 1998 & 1996 National Record in Women's Air Pistol.
• 1997 USA Shooting Female Pistol Shooter of the Year.
• 1997 Championship of the Americas & World Cup Team Member.