Colonel (R) Debra A. Thedford was born in Meridian, Mississippi. After receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Tougaloo College, she began her military career in 1981 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. She retired as a Colonel after 28 years of honorable service. She is a recognized chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological expert with over 40 years of experience. During her military career, COL Thedford served at several levels of command and staff including numerous assignments in the United States and abroad. These included Commander of the Pine Bluff Chemical Activity, Director of Chemical and Biological Defense Programs in the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense and culminated as Director of Training and Leader Development, at the U.S. Army CBRN School.

COL (R) Debra A. Thedford is the Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives, Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground. In this capacity, she leads the strategic functions of a world class science and engineering laboratory, to include several initiatives in strategic planning, international programs, technology transfer, protocol, and communications.