The Navy Reserve welcomed its first female commander in a ceremony Monday afternoon in Washington, D.C.
Rear Adm. Robin Braun is the 12th chief of the Navy Reserve, and is the first woman to lead any Reserve component of the military. She received her third star in a ceremony earlier Monday.
Adm. Braun succeeded Navy Vice Admiral Dirk Debbink, who retired Monday in a change of command ceremony.
Adm. Braun thanked her husband Mike, son Tyler, daughter Rachel and her extended family, who attended the ceremony, for their support.
She also thanked her father, a naval aviator and combat veteran who served in the Navy for 32 years.
“My dad is with us in spirit today,” the admiral said. “He made this seem attainable, and back in 1979, he didn’t see any reason why his daughter couldn’t be a naval aviator or an admiral. And he supported me 100 percent in everything that I did.”
“And I’m very proud to wear his wings, and his sword at my side,” she added.
Her previous assignments include deputy director of the European Plans and Operations Center for U.S. European Command and commander of Navy Recruiting Command. An aviator, she has logged more than 5,800 hours in naval aircraft.
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Kristina Wong is a national security reporter for The Washington Times, covering defense, foreign policy and intelligence affairs. She can be reached at kwong@washingtontimes.com.
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