by khurst2@gmail.com | Mar 9, 2021 | News
08 March 2021
From Petty Officer 2nd Class Tristan Lotz, Subase New London
Women in today’s U.S. Navy proudly serve alongside their male counterparts, with great opportunity ahead of them and a wake of history and perseverance behind them.
GROTON, Conn. – Women in today’s U.S. Navy proudly serve alongside their male counterparts, with great opportunity ahead of them and a wake of history and perseverance behind them.
Women’s naval history officially starts in 1908 with the establishment of the Navy Nurse Corps. A contract nurse from the Spanish-American War named Esther Voorhees Hasson was appointed superintendent. Hasson was joined by 19 other women who together formed the “Sacred Twenty.” These women were the first to officially serve in the United States Navy.
The 20th century saw women make great strides in naval service. Manning issues in both World Wars compelled the Navy to open enlistment to women. The most famous example of this was the Women Appointed for Voluntary Emergency Services (WAVES), authorized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt with Public Law 689. The goal of the WAVES was to have women serving in shore positions so as to free up male service members for deployment in Europe or the Pacific.
by khurst2@gmail.com | Mar 8, 2021 | News
The National Historical Foundation featured guest speakers discussing the impact VADM Sam Gravely, Jr. had on the Navy. Speakers: The Honorable BJ Penn, RADM Julius Caesar, Paul Stillwell, Dr. Gina Akers, and Dr. Roslyn Brock.
by khurst2@gmail.com | Mar 5, 2021 | Announcements
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, published his Message to the Force, which committed to ensuring that the Department develops the right people, priorities, and purpose of mission to continue to defend the Nation from enemies foreign and domestic.
Secretary Austin provided his top three priorities and specific areas of focus:
1. Defend the Nation
— Defeat COVID-19
— Prioritize China as the Pacing Challenge
— Address Advanced and Persistent Threats
— Innovate and Modernize the DoD
— Tackle the Climate Crisis
2. Take care of our people
— Grow our Talent
— Build Resilience and Readiness
— Ensure Accountable Leadership
3. Succeed through teamwork
— Join Forces with our Allies and Partners
— Work in Partnership with Our Nation
— Build Unity Within the DoD
Secretary Austin reiterated the need for resources matched to strategy, strategy matched to policy, and policy matched to the will of the American people.
The Secretary closed the message by thanking the women and men of the Department of Defense for their service to the country and commitment to the security of the Nation.
by khurst2@gmail.com | Mar 5, 2021 | News
Keeping the party going with a simple collage of all 8 Black Women that have commanded a U.S. Navy ship.
(Top L-R)
ADM Michelle Howard – SWO
CAPT Monica Stoker – SWO
CAPT Janice Smith – SWO
CAPT Janet Days – SWO
(Bottom L-R)
CDR Kelley Jones – SWO
CDR Kimberly Jones – SWO(N)
CDR Kathryn Wijnaldum – SWO(N)
CDR LaDonna Gee Simpson – SWO(N)
by khurst2@gmail.com | Mar 4, 2021 | News
The White House recently released Interim National Security Strategic Guidance. I recommend all NNOA members take a close read to this and see where your Service or Agency aligns.
NSS Interim Guidance 2021
