Beverly Kelley

Beverly G. Kelley was the first woman to command a U.S. military vessel.[1][2]

Lt. (j.g.) Beverly Kelley on the bridge of USCGC Cape Newagen

Background

Kelley was raised in Miami, Florida and graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. In January 1976 she enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and then attended Officer Candidate School in Yorktown, Virginia from February through June 1976.[3] She earned her master of arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and a master of science degree in national resource management from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C.[4]

Career

Kelley became the first woman to command an American military vessel of any branch of the service, specifically a Coast Guard cutter, the 95-foot patrol boat USCGC Cape Newagen, on April 12, 1979.[5][6][7] In 1996, she was also the first woman to command a medium endurance cutter, USCGC Northland.[8][3] In 2000, she became commander of a high endurance cutter, USCGC Boutwell, and made history as the first woman ever to do so.[8] She retired on April 22, 2006 at the rank of captain.[4]

Later life

Kelley was appointed to an open seat on the Queen Anne's County Board of Education by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley in 2011.[9] She was elected to the seat in November 2012,[10] re-elected in November 2016[11] and continued to serve through 2020.[12] Kelley served as president of the board during the 2018-2019 school year.[13] She was not a candidate for re-election in November 2020.[14]

Kelley became a member of the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services in March 2013[15] and continued to serve on the committee through 2016.[16]

Personal

Kelley is married to Kevin M. Tokarski,[9] who is Associate Administrator for Strategic Sealift at the United States Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation.[17] The couple have one son.[9]

Honors

Her military decorations during her thirty years of service include: [4]

References
  1. "She's Beverly, Not Shipwreck, Kelley—and the First Woman Ever to Command a U.S. Man-of-War". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  2. Iskra, Darlene M. (2010-03-23). Women in the United States Armed Forces: A Guide to the Issues: A Guide to the Issues. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313374968.
  3. "The Long Blue Line: Officer Candidate School and female trailblazers in the Coast Guard's officer corps". Compass. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  4. "RETIREMENT CEREMONY BEVERLY G. KELLEY CAPTAIN, U.S. COAST GUARD - PDF". docplayer.net. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  5. "Retirement Ceremony, Beverly G. Kelley, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard", U.S. Coast Guard, 22 April 2006, on docplayer.net
  6. "Celebrating National Women's History Month 2011". www.womensmemorial.org. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  7. "Defense.gov News Article: Coast Guard Honors Centenarian, Its First Woman Commissioned Officer". archive.defense.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  8. "Always Ready: Women's Crucial Role in the U.S. Coast Guard". Defense Media Network. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  9. "New BOE member Kelley sworn in". My Eastern Shore, Maryland. May 25, 2011. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  10. Baldwin, Dan (November 6, 2012). "Harper, Kelley win seats on school board". My Eastern Shore, Maryland. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  11. Combs, Hannah (December 22, 2016). "Kelley and Harlow sworn in to QA Board of Education". Bay Times and Record Observer. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  12. "Board of Education Members". Queen Anne's County Public Schools. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  13. Combs, Hannah (December 21, 2018). "Kelley elected school board president". The Star Democrat. Easton, Maryland. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  14. "Queen Anne's County 2020 Presidential General Election Local Candidates List". The Maryland State Board of Elections. October 30, 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  15. "Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services: 2013 Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  16. "Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services: 2016 Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  17. "Associate Administrator for Strategic Sealift". U.S. Maritime Administration. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
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