Sazama Holds Promotion Ceremony In Bloomfield

Lieutenant Colonel Wendi M. Sazama was honored at a promotion ceremony last Saturday at the Freedom Hall in Bloomfield. 


Sazma is a legal engagements attorney at the Office of Legal Counsel for the United States Africa Command. USAFRICOM, with partners, builds defense capabilities, responds to crisis and deters and defends transnational threats in order to advance United States national interests and promote regional security, stability and prosperity. In her role as an Engagements Attorney, Sazma advances the USAFRICOM Theater Strategy by designing, implementing and managing sustained legal capacity building activities, exercises and programs with African military legal professionals and commanders in order to promote discipline military operations subject to the rule of law.


Sazama is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals. She is also licensed to practice law in the state of South Dakota.


Sazama is a Boomfield native. She received a certificate of paralegal studies from Northeast Community College in Norfolk. She continued her education at Wayne State College, receiving a Bachelor of Science in business in 2003. She earned a master of business administration degree in 2006 from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion SD. Sazama continued her education with the US Air Force. 


Captain Debra Bodenstedt posted the promotion order and gave remarks at the ceremony on Saturday. Bobenstedt is also a Nebraska native. She was born and raised in Wayne. She attended Wayne State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1978. She taught high school for three years before joining the United States Navy. 
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“This is the first promotion that my sister is able to attend,” said Sazama. 


Sazama’s nieces changed her rank pins, and she recited the oath under the direction of Capt. Bodenstedt. A reception followed.