MY SISTER MARY WAS A TRAILBLAZER FOR WOMEN AT SEA

MARY BALDAUF KELLY PRISE WAS A 1996 GRADUATE OF THOMAS W Harvey HIGH SCHOOL AND IS A MEMBER OF THAT SCHOOL'S DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE HALL OF FAME.
DURING A DISTINGUISHED NAVY CAREER, SHE WAS A TRAIL BLAZER FOR WOMEN IN THE U.S. NAVY.

NOTES ON HER MILITARY SERVICE:
*She enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving in that military branch for five years

She enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1976 as an E-3 Seaman.
*Early on, she was chosen as a model for Navy posters, and also represented the Navy in Public Relations projects.
*1976-77-She attended Radar Specialist School
*1977-78-She was stationed at Fleet Combat Training Center Atlantic; worked in the Human Goals Office and Drug/Alcohol Office; and was promoted to E-5, Second Class Petty Officer
*1978-She volunteered for duty on the U.S.S. Vulcan for the First Women at Sea
Program
*1978-82-She served on the U.S.S. Vulcan as Operations Specialist, Radar
*1980-She was promoted to E-6 Petty Officer, First Class
*1984-She was promoted to E-7, Chief Petty Officer
*1984-87-She conducted Anti-Submarine Aircraft Training at Fleet Combat Training
Center; and she taught Helo Control for the identification system of ships and aircraft
*1989-She was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer
*1989-91-She worked as certified alcohol counsel at Norfolk Alcohol Rehabilitation
Center; and she trained navy and civilian personnel in the navy's policies regarding
alcoholism
*1991-93-She served as Senior Enlisted Member on the U.S.S. Ainsworth; and she estified before a panel of the Presidential Commission for Women in Combat.
*1993-94-She served at Operations Specialists School in Virginia Beach

SOME FIRST SHE ACCOMPLISHED DURING HER CAREER:
*1976-77-She was the first woman to finish the U.S. Navy's Radar Specialist School all-male class with Honor Graduate Designation
*1982-84-She was the first woman to conduct refresher training courses on navy ships
*And also the first woman to conduct amphibious ship-to-shore training at the Amphibious School
*1987-89-She was the first woman Chief Petty Officer to serve as Assistant Officer in charge of a military detachment of twenty on board a U.S.N.S. Merchant Marine Ship. She was responsible for all communications for the ship.
*1991-She was the first woman to become the leading Chief Petty Officer on board a navy frigate, the U.S.S. Ainsworth
*1994-She was the first woman to serve on board the nuclear aircraft carrier, the John C. Stennis
*1995-She was the first grandmother on the nuclear aircraft carrier, the John C. Stennis after serving twenty years in the military

Inducted:
Member of The Harvey Alumni Association
Distinguished Graduates
June 2, 1995