Rita C. Meyer currently serves Wyoming's 19th State Auditor and was a candidate for Governor of Wyoming in the 2010 Wyoming gubernatorial election

Wyoming gubernatorial election, 2010

The 2010 Wyoming gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the Governor of Wyoming, who will serve a four-year term to begin in January 2011...

. She lost to Matt Mead on August 17, 2010 by approximately 700 votes.

Early life and education

Meyer was reared with three brothers and a sister near Johnstown

Johnstown, Nebraska

Johnstown is a village in Brown County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 53 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Johnstown is located at ....

, Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

. The family moved to Centennial

Centennial, Wyoming

Centennial is a census-designated place in Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 191 at the 2000 census.-History:As the Union Pacific Railroad was pushing west to link up with the Central Pacific Railroad, as part of the First Transcontinental Railroad, they sent logging crews...

, Wyoming, in 1977. Meyer attended the University of Wyoming

University of Wyoming

The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...

 to earn degrees in education and finance. She also holds an MBA in International Business

International Business

International business is a term used to collectively describe all commercial transactions that take place between two or more regions, countries and nations beyond their political boundary...

 from Regis University

Regis University

Regis University is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic, Jesuit university in the United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1877, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...

 and a Master’s in National Resource Strategy from National Defense University

National Defense University

The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...

 in Washington, D.C.

Professional career

In addition to her military career and serving as Wyoming's State Auditor, Meyer has served as Chief of Staff to Governor Jim Geringer

Jim Geringer

James Edward "Jim" Geringer was the 30th Governor of Wyoming.-Early life and education:Geringer was raised on a farm in Wheatland, Wyoming. He attended Kansas State University and was a member of Triangle Fraternity, earning a degree in mechanical engineering. He served for ten years in the...

 from 1998 to 2002, served on the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees, and served as U.S. Senator

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

 Malcolm Wallop

Malcolm Wallop

Malcolm Wallop was a Republican politician and former three-term United States Senator from Wyoming.-Early years:...

’s Service Academy Nomination Committee.

Military career

Meyer served her state and the nation for over 23 years as an enlisted airman and officer in the Wyoming Air National Guard

Wyoming Air National Guard

The Wyoming Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Wyoming. It is, along with the Wyoming Army National Guard, an element of the Wyoming National Guard...

. She attained the rank of full Colonel in July 2004. She is a combat veteran of both Desert Storm

Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

 and Operation Enduring Freedom. Her final overseas assignment was as Mission Support Group Commander at Bagram Airfield

Bagram Air Base

Bagram Airfield, also referred to as Bagram Air Base, is a militarized airport and housing complex that is located next to the ancient city of Bagram, southeast of Charikar in Parwan province of Afghanistan. The base is run by a US Army division headed by a major general. A large part of the base,...

, Afghanistan. She retired in November 2007.

She served as an Admissions Liaison Officer to the United States Air Force Academy

United States Air Force Academy

The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...

 and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps

Reserve Officers' Training Corps

The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. It is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics.The U.S...

.

Awards and recognition

Meyer has received the award of Outstanding Alumni from both the University of Wyoming College of Business and the College of Education

Legion of Merit

Legion of Merit

The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...

 as well as numerous other military awards and decorations including the Order of the Bayonet and the Order of St. Barbara.

Personal life

She is married to Dr. Charles Meyer, a retired dentist and native of Rawlins, Wyoming

Rawlins, Wyoming

Rawlins is a city in Carbon County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 8,538 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carbon County...

. They have one son, Charles, a Navy Lieutenant, and a daughter-in-law, Emily, an export control attorney in Arlington, Virginia

Arlington County, Virginia

Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...

.

External links

• Wyoming State Auditor official state government site
• Rita Meyer for Governor official campaign site