Naval Academy gets first woman commandant of midshipmen

[MonteSano]

Capt. Margaret D. Klein will be the Naval Academy's first female commandant of midshipmen, serving as No. 2 in the chain of command behind Vice Adm. Rodney P. Rempt.

Klein's appointment was announced Friday.

A native of Weymouth, Mass., Klein, 49, is a naval flight officer and a 1981 graduate of the Naval Academy. She is currently serving as chief of staff to the commander of Carrier Strike Group Eight in Norfolk, Va.

The commandant is responsible for training, discipline and character development for the academy's 4,200 midshipmen.


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MA_BRF_ACADEMY_COMMANDANT_MAOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-10-20-17-32-27

[crikkett]

1. Nice, but not really exciting.

Does it perpetuate sexism to be overly excited about appointments like this? The Navy's had 15 years or so, since Tailhook, to get used to the idea of women being equal to men.

I bet it's not such a great deal for the Mids either. Unless she's tough enough to ignore the Brass' BS those poor kids will probably be put through the wringer to prove she can do the job better than a guy.

But then it's been a long week of dragonslaying for this woman (me). :hangover:
I probably wouldn't be excited if a woman made Prez right now.

[MADem]

2. It's past time. But I guess better late than never. The reason it likely

hadn't happened sooner is because of USNA's lousy prejudices against hiring staff in senior slots, male or female, who didn't attend that institution of thought control in Annapolis. They could have had a woman commandant MUCH sooner, but they would have had to make do with one who didn't spend her important, formative college years being brainwashed, harassed, constrained in her thinking process, and having her personal liberty abrogated.

I don't think much of most of those ring knockers, or the military academy educational system in general. It's VERY expensive per student, and it doesn't deliver what a decently funded state school does in terms of product, frankly. The ones coming out of that sausage factory that are good are just that in SPITE of their education, not because of it.

But it's "tradition." And that trumps quality, because it's been around so damn long.

[niyad]

3. wow USNA, welcome to the 21st century!!!