Sara E. Lister is a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Army under the Carter administration and then as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) from 1994 to 1997, the highest ranking female civilian in the service at the time. She led efforts to provide women greater opportunities to serve in the Army, and supported investigations of sexual harassment and discrimination in the military. Lister gained national attention in November 1997 when she referred to members of the United States Marine Corps as "extremists" during a discussion at an academic conference. She was ultimately forced to resign early as Assistant Secretary of the Army because of the controversy over her remarks.