Navy, Marines will have highest rank for women
Thursday, March 23, 2006
BY OTTO KREISHER COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - President Bush has nominated female Navy and Marine Corps officers for promotion to three-star rank, the highest rank ever held by U.S. military women, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.

If their nominations are confirmed by the Senate, Navy Rear Adm. Nancy E. Brown will be the second female vice admiral on active duty and Maj. Gen. Francis C. Wilson will become the only current Marine female lieutenant general.

The Army and the Air Force each have one female three-star officer on active service.

Brown was nominated for promotion to vice admiral and assignment as director of command, control, communications and computer systems on the Joint Staff in Washington. She holds similar positions at the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the U.S. Northern Command.

Wilson was nominated for elevation to lieutenant general and appointment as president of the prestigious National Defense University. She is the commandant of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

The Navy’s other vice admiral is Ann E. Rondeau, director of the Navy staff at the Pentagon. The Navy has two female two-star rear admirals and 10 one-star officers.

The Marines have only one other female general officer, Brig. Gen. Mary Ann Krusa-Dossin, director of public affairs. A former military police commander, she has been nominated for promotion to major general.

Ellie