Biography
Brigadier General Marie Goff, U.S. Army retired, completed over 37 years of military service in the United States Army and the South Carolina National Guard. In 2010, she was selected as the Assistant Adjutant General and later the Director of Joint Staff, where she served until her retirement in April 2015. Marie graduated with honors from Lander University with a degree in Sociology. She holds a Master of Arts in Computer and Information Management from Webster University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Among Marie’s awards is an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Lander University. Today, she is a writer, photographer, public speaker, and world traveler based in South Carolina. The S.C. State Library displayed her photos that highlight the state, A Photographer’s Journey Across South Carolina (2023), and South Carolina Revolutionary War Sites (2025). The book Scenic Driving South Carolina (3rd Edition, Copyright 2024) features some of her photos. Marie’s stories and photos appear in South Carolina Wildlife Magazine, The Southern Edge Magazine, and numerous online publications, including her travel blog at TravelNotesAndStorytelling.com. She is married to Col. Eddie Goff, U.S. Army, retired.
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Sociology, Lander University, Cum Laude
- Master of Arts, Computer & Information Management, Webster University
- Master of Strategic Studies, United States Army War College
Honors & Awards
- Legion of Merit
- Superior Civilian Service Award
- Honoree, Women in Philanthropy and Leadership, Coastal Carolina University
- Honorary Doctorate Lander University
- Distinguished Alumni of the Year Lander University
- Special Recognition Spann Watson Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen
- State of SC Military Department, The Gadsden Medal
Organizations
- National Guard Associations of the United States and South Carolina
- Leadership South Carolina
- Leadership America
- Leadership International: South Africa, Mexico, Scandinavia, Canada
- Past Board of Directors Alston Wilkes Society
- Past Advisory Board Member SC National Guard Youth ChalleNGge Academy
News
Darlene Marie Goff, The National Guard Association of the United States Oral History Project, In My Words, Story Date August 29, 2024, page 337
Goff speaks at DAR, Columbia Star, January 22, 2026
Celebrating 60 of South Carolina’s most influential military leaders, Midlands Biz, November 2, 2025
The Theology of Ecology, Grand Strand Magazine, Grand Strand Magazine, December 2022
Travel Notes Check Out Marie’s Blog, Leadership Women Newsletter December 2018
First female SC Army National Guard general officer retires, DVIDS, April 30, 2015
S.C. Army Guard’s 1st female general: Women going far, Army Times, March 22, 2015
Brig. Gen. Darlene Goff, Picryl, March 14, 2015
Lander University graduates 182 at fall commencement ceremonies, Independent Mail, June 6, 2012
WIPL Women’s Conference deemed success, Coastal Carolina University, Archived Newsletter, March 2011
SC National Guard promotes first female general officer, Watch Fox 57, January 7, 2011
SC National Guard Historic Milestone, Flickr, January 25, 2011
SC Guard gets First Female General, The State Paper, January 7, 2011
