Col. Mary J. Mayer, USAF (Ret) received her undergraduate degree in Spanish/secondary education from Marylhurst University and received her Master of Arts in human resource management from Central Michigan University in 1983. She completed 30 years of active service in the Air Force, culminating in her serving as commander, Defense Contract Management Agency, Northrop Grumman.

Mayer retired from the military in December 2002. Having completed a four-year gubernatorial appointment to the Advisory Committee to the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs, she was recently confirmed for a three-year term as a Commissioner on the Oregon Governor's Commission on Senior Services.