GM CEO Mary Barra Added To List Of First Lady's SOTU Guests

(RTTNews) - Mary Barra, the new Chief Executive Officer of General Motors (GM), has been added to the list of First Lady Michelle Obama's guests at the President's State of the Union Address, the White House announced on Tuesday.

Barra took over as head of GM earlier this month, becoming the first female CEO of a global automaker. The White House noted that Fortune Magazine named her one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" in 2013.

The guests announced on Tuesday also include Antoinette Tuff, a Georgia bookkeeper who prevented a shooting at an elementary school, as well as immigration activist Cristian Avila.

A statement from the White House said, "The guests who have been invited to sit with the First Lady represent the stories of millions of Americans across the country, who are working hard to better their communities, improve their own economic outcomes and help restore opportunity for all."

On Monday, the White House announced that Michelle Obama's guests would include two survivors of last year's Boston Marathon bombing and the first openly gay NBA player.

Other guests include Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, and Vice Admiral Michelle Howard, the first female four-star admiral in the Navy's 238-year history.

The First Lady's guests are often chosen for an act of bravery but can also be selected to highlight a policy the President plans to address in his speech.

The White House said the guests will be seated in the box with the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden and Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett.