NPS Observes Women's History Month
Today@NPS
NPS Observes Women's History Month
By MC2 Shawn J. Stewart
NPS Chief of Staff Capt. Deidre McLay discusses Capt. Joy Bright Hancock's role in making women a permanent part of the Navy during the Multicultural Heritage Committee's Women's History Month observance at Glasgow Hall, Mar. 19. McLay's speech also focused on the contributions made by the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES).
"The event was an opportunity to pause and reflect on the contributions of women over the years and the importance of making opportunities available to all based on ability and performance," said McLay.
McLay noted that WAVES Director Lt. Cmdr Mildred McAffee was also the president of Wellesley College and that she commanded over 82,000 women at the height of WWII.
"Given that we work at NPS … with many accomplished women academics, I thought it important to draw attention to the fact that many of the first women officers of the Navy, in the 1940s, came from academic leadership positions," said McLay.
"I look forward to future Heritage Committee events and encourage participation and attendance by NPS' military and civilian students, faculty and staff," McLay continued.