 Wilson's sister, Mary O'Donnell is a retired U.S. Coast Guard rear admiral, who in 2000 became the first woman to become a reserve rear admiral in the Coast Guard.At the time of O'Donnell's retirement in 2004, Wilson and her sister were the highest ranking sisters in the U.S. Military.Commissioned a second lieutenant in November 1972, she was the Honor Graduate and recipient of the Leadership Award from the United States Marine Corps Women Officer Basic School.