MY SISTER MARY WAS A 1966 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 FIRSTS 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
*She was 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
June 2, 1995, She was inducted into the Harvey High School (Painesville, OH Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Graduate)
