Chelsea Porterfield

Precision and resolve brought new leadership to a holy post.

Chelsea Porterfield served twenty years in the United States Army. Her career as a military police soldier included postings in Germany, Korea, Hawaii, Missouri and the National Capital Region, with deployments to Israel, Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2017 she joined the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard, as a platoon sergeant.

Selected for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Porterfield became the first woman to hold the appointment of Sergeant of the Guard. Her responsibilities combined leadership and training with the exacting ceremonial standards of the Tomb Guard platoon. The Society of the Honor Guard records her qualification as Tomb Guard Badge number 688 and her service as Sergeant of the Guard during 2020-2021.

In 2021 she participated in the first all-female changing of the guard. Her operational and leadership service brought the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medals and Army Commendation Medals among other decorations.

After retiring in 2022, Porterfield spoke publicly about treatment and recovery from a mental-health crisis during her military career. Through veterans' organisations and the American Legion's Be the One initiative, she encouraged others to seek support and challenged the stigma that can prevent them from doing so.