Feb. 1, 2021

Perseverance: Lt. j.g. Harriet Ida Pickens and Ensign Frances Wills

In November 2020, CNO and Mrs. Gilday installed a new exhibit entitled "Celebrating Navy Women: Perseverance and Achievements" in the Tingey House. The pioneers proudly served their country and in 2021, the Naval History and Heritage Command will be sharing their stories.Two women who persevered were LTJG Harriet Ida Pickens and Ensign Frances

March 26, 2018

Alene Duerk: Celebrating the 98th birthday of a Navy icon.

On this day in 1920, Rear Adm. Alene Duerk - the first woman to attain flag rank in the U.S. Navy - was born in Defiance, Ohio. This week, she will mark her 98th birthday from her home in Florida.Duerk entered the Navy in January 1943, when the naval campaigns in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea were still in full-tilt and World War II stretched

Jan. 16, 2018

Overcoming Hurdles - The Legacy of Master Chief Carl Brashear

Throughout mankind's history, there have been stories of individuals who have overcome extremely difficult odds in order to showcase the true strength of the human spirit with amazing results. Carl Maxie Brashear is one of those individuals who demonstrated unyielding tenacity to overcome his circumstances only to achieve his ultimate goal of

March 28, 2016

Finding Greatness: The Navy's First Woman SCUBA Diver

As a society, we love stories about ordinary people who find greatness in themselves when tested. They remind us that greatness lies within all of us if we are brave enough to step outside our comfort zones, dream big, and work hard. Kati Garner, the Navy's first female SCUBA diver, was an ordinary girl from Colorado who discovered greatness in

Feb. 24, 2016

The Legacy of African American Leadership

Editor's Note: Sailors find the greatest mentorship by watching their leader's everyday actions. Often times we do not know which Sailors of today will be the trail blazers written about in history tomorrow; but one thing we do know is their success is forged, in part, by the Sailors that served before them. Growing up in humble settings, I had no

Jan. 29, 2016

In February, We Honor the Contributions of African-Americans to our Proud Naval History

February is BLACK HISTORY MONTH, a time to commemorate the history and heritage of African Americans and for us, their accomplishments in the U.S. Navy. Here are a few notable figures from naval history.Carl M. Brashear, while on assignment during bomb recovery operations in March 1966, a line used for towing broke loose, causing a pipe to strike

Dec. 9, 2014

Grace Hopper: Navy to the Core, a Pirate at Heart

The typical career arc of a naval officer may run from 25-30 years. Most, however, don't start at age 35.Yet when it comes to Rear Adm. Grace Hopper, well, the word "typical" just doesn't apply. Feisty. Eccentric. Maverick. Brilliant. Precise. Grace Hopper embodied all of those descriptions and more, but perhaps what defined her as much as anything

Oct. 17, 2014

Remembering the First Black Women Naval Officers

"Navy to admit Negroes into the WAVES," so read the newspaper headlines Oct. 19, 1944. For the first time black women would be commissioned naval officers as members of the Navy's female reserve program.The program first made news July 30, 1942, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law. Their official nickname was WAVES, an acronym