Women S History Month

NPS Collection photo: Sally Dutcher was the first documented woman to climb Half Dome in October 1875. She worked as an assistant to photographer Carleton Watkins in Yosemite Valley and was described as a "rema More

"Chich” is the Chinuk Wawa word for “grandmother.” When you say it, the "i" in this word should sound like the "i" in the English word "itch." This photo from our museum collection is the only known image of M More

PATUXENT RIVER, Maryland (March 3, 2017) - An undated photo from the personal collection of Alice Virginia Benzie, a Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) Sailor stationed at NAS Patuxent River More

President Kennedy meets with representatives of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) to honor the corps' 20th anniversary. Though there wasn't an offical Women's History Month until 1981, President Kennedy did sign the More

Raye Montague - the Navy's 'hidden figure' - is presented with an award in this undated photograph. Montague was the keynote speaker at a National Women's History Month Observance held at Naval Support Facility More

Lt. Col. Jennifer Mitchell, commander of the 216th Engineer Battalion, speaks to Soldiers of the 1191st Engineer Company who were preparing to deploy overseas in 2014. Now a colonel, she is the first woman to c More

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 24, 2017) – Capt. Elizabeth Adriano, Naval Hospital (NH) Jacksonville director for surgical services, speaks about prominent women who inspired her Naval career during a Women’s Histor More

Frances Green, Margaret (Peg) Kirchner, Ann Waldner, and Blanche Osborn are shown at Lockbourne Air Force Base in Ohio.

The first women to serve in the U.S. Navy were nurses, beginning with the “Sacred Twenty” appointed after Congress established the Navy Nurse Corps on May 13, 1908. On March 7, 1994, the Navy issued the first o More

Then-Staff Sgt. Felicia Rodriguez with teammates Jan. 15, 2006, while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Rodriguez, now a First Sergeant, is the enlisted leader of the 7th Special Forces Group (Ai More

Rakkasan and Falcon Soldiers browse a table of makeup, perfume, chocolate and gift bags donated by female staff members from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga. (U.S. Army photo/Capt. Allison Flannigan)

(Left to right), Brig. Gen. Gregory Couch, the commanding general for the 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, listens intently to Spc. Lamisha Foster, a Chicago native, and an automotive logistics speciali More

Petty Officer 3rd Class Tamara Williams, enlisted aide to the deputy commanding general, Afghan army development, listens to the guest speaker during a Women's History Month celebration at Camp Eggers, Afghanis More

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Patricia Hill, Civil Rights Officer at Coast Guard Maintenance and Logistics Command Atlantic and Faynetta Anderson-Jennings, Equal Employment Manager at Coast Guard Atlantic Area present Susa More

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Keynote speaker Susan Barco educates attendees about sensitivities involved when humans and marine mammals come into contact during the Coast Guard Women's History Month Celebration at Integra More

Master Sgt. Renee Fullard, 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, geared up to go outside the wire in front her truck “Notorious” during her deployment to Iraq as a combat trucker May 21, 2010. Fulla More

Comedian performs for troopers: Carmen Barton, an entertainer from St. Louis, performs a stand-up comedy routine for soldiers assigned to Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Briga More

Cpl. John E. Sturgeon, a personal security detail team leader with the 36th Infantry Division, lends comedian Brooks Jackson-Colyar a supporting hand with the M9 9 mm pistol, March 14, during a USO-sponsored al More

Soldiers listen to the jokes of comic April Macie at an outdoor stage on Contingency Operating Site Kalsu Monday. Macie’s performance received non-stop laughter and applause from the servicemembers at the show. More

Soldiers listen to the jokes of comic April Macie at an outdoor stage on Contingency Operating Site Kalsu Monday. Macie’s performance received non-stop laughter and applause from the service members at the show More

Chief Warrant 4 Anne Wiley (left), the senior standardizations instructor pilot for 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, and Capt. Carmel Cammack, an assistant operations officer for the unit, both OH-58D Kiowa More

Lt. Col. Mary Krueger, surgeon, U.S. Division-North and 4th Infantry Division, hosts a Women's History Month celebration at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, March 18. Krueger spoke of military heroines, pas More

Gunnery Sgt. Tanya Fitch, staff non-commissioned officer in charge, Customer Service Branch, Installation Personnel Administration Center, speaks at the Women's History Month luncheon, held at Anderson Hall Din More

NEW YORK - Dr. Olivia Hooker, 97, who holds the distinction of being the first African-American woman admitted into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1945, addresses an audience at a Women's History Month celebration in More

CLEVELAND - Yvonne Pointer, Cleveland-based anti-violence activist, author, motivational speaker, philanthropist and member of the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, speaks to about 225 federal employees during the Wom More

CLEVELAND - U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Randy Helland, acting chief of staff for the Ninth Coast Guard District, presents Yvonne Pointer with a plaque to thank her for being the keynote speaker during the Women's Hi More

Seaman Brad Spencer, from Scottsburg, Ind., speaks about the historical achievements of women at a Women's History Month ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington. The ceremony was held in the More

Mike Einer, manager of the Base Exchange at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, views civil rights era documents and photographs on display by Lucille Bridges. Her daughter Ruby in 1960 was among the first African- More

Col. Janice D. Wallace, 79th Medical Wing vice commander, found her career niche as a nurse while attending Murray State University, Murray, Ky. Prior to joining the Air Force, Wallace served in nursing stints More

A native of Port Angeles, Wash., 28-year-old Trisha Bury currently works with the United States Agency for International Development and can often been seen in local district centers working alongside local lea More

Sgt. Francis I. Fonseca, a native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, and a combat medic with Company C, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, fires an M4, Feb. 21, during More

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Melinda Morris, 27th Special Operations Wing Equal Opportunity, proudly holds up a framed image of herself on the Community College of the Air Force marketing poster in her office at C More

U.S. Air Force Maj. Caroline Jensen, Thunderbird 3, Right Wing pilot and her dedicated crew chief, Staff Sgt. Tacota LeMuel pose for a portrait at the Thunderbird hangar, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 2, 2 More

World War II WAVE and code talker Winnie Breegle speaks to August Kuikendal, a senior at Arnold High School in Panama City, Fla., after the 2012 Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division's Diversity Cou More

NEW YORK - Coast Guard Capt. Diane Durham, former Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Cutter Forward and presently the Chief of Professional Development at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., addresses More

Coast Guard Capt. Diane Durham, former Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Cutter Forward and presently the Chief of Professional Development at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., addresses students fr More

Coast Guard Capt. Diane Durham, former Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Cutter Forward and presently the Chief of Professional Development at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., addresses students fr More

Lt. Col. Grace Link, commanding officer of the Missouri Air National Guard's 139th Civil Engineering Squadron, talks with Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and Joint Task Force, Guantanamo leadership about upcoming More

Judith Croxton 20th Contracting Squadron director of business operator; Col. Helen Brasher 20th Maintenance Group commander; Lt. Col. Susan Pooler 408th Contracting Support Brigade, deputy commander; 1st Lt. Re More

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Stacey Ehrenberg, 57th Maintenance Squadron munitions systems apprentice, performs routine maintenance on a munitions handling trailer, March 22, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev More

Cathy Almand, wife of Col. David Almand, 6th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, speaks to attendees of the Woman’s History Month panel held at the chapel on MacDill Air Force Base Fla., March 23, 2012. The panel More

Women from Joint Base Charleston pose in celebration of Women's History Month March 27. Women's History Month honors historical figures in women's history and everyday women who are empowering their children by More

Col. Joseph Milner, commander, 42nd Mission Support Group, addresses the crowd gathered near a C-130 to acknowledge the great strides that women have made in society. To celebrate Women's History Month and demo More

Sgt. Neisha Boyd (wearing Spc.) models a 1970's era women's Army uniform during Women's History Month activites at Fort Jackson, S.C., March 28. The original uniform was donated to the 81st Regional Support Com More

Cmdr. Matthew Bonner, commanding officer of USS Constitution, Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kathryn MacDonald and Constitution's Command Master Chief Roxanne Rhoades cook for a Women's History Month o More

Master Sgt. James Cork (left), equal opportunity representative presents retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Toreaser A. Steele with the Mayor of San Antonio proclamation for Women's History Month, during a Women’s hi More

Cpl. Jock H. Sears, a recycling non-commissioned officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron and a Denver native, stands in formation aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., May 1. During the H More

Tracy Ringo became a colonel in 2014, making her the highest-ranking African-American woman in the Ohio Army National Guard. (Courtesy photo)

Sgt. Lacey Hunt, a print journalist for the 102nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, is currently on deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt More

Staff Sgt. Sarah Welch, a broadcast journalist for the 102nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, is currently on deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army P More

Sergeant Ashley Bell, a print journalist for the 102nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, is currently on deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army Photo b More

Sgt. Phyllis Thompson, a broadcast journalist for 102nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment is currently on deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army Photo)

Sgt. Maj. Tonia Littlejohn, a senior logistics service supervisor for the Third Infantry Division, is currently on deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Ar More

Sgt. Maj. LaSonjia Stewart, a senior logistics operations officer for the Third Infantry Division, is currently on deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army Photo)

Capt. Carrie Kerner, 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron leads the morning maintenance meeting at a deployed base in Southwest Asia Feb. 14, 2013. Kerner is the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Compan More

Marine Drill Instructor Sgt. Alejandra Hernandez gives a "recruit" a taste of boot camp during a platoon pick-up reenactment at 4th Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Depot Parris Island, S.C., on Mar More

Jeanne Shaw has had a passion for automotives throughout her life. She has used this to follow a career and break the stigma of a normally male dominant profession. Shaw first learned about cars when she was ju More

Shafak Pervez, a Department of the Army civilian electrical engineer, poses fora photo while conducting electrical work at Kandahar Airfield, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 2, 2013.

USACE Transatlantic District North's occupational health nurse, Judi Wright, RN, instructs Burhan Security Services (BSS) guards during a first aid class recently. Wright, an experienced trauma nurse, taught n More

Panama City Beach Mayor Gail Oberst proclaims March 2013 Women's History Month in Panama City Beach, Fla., as Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Diversity Council Members Pete Hamilton (left), Ze More

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sherisha Ko, 99th Force Support Squadron food service shift leader, transfers grilled chicken to a pan March 6, 2013, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Ko is responsible for planning, pre More

Cmdr. Lore Aguayo, right, commanding officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 presents a plaque, on behalf of the women of NMCB-11, to Navy veteran Marion Ritchie who accepts on behalf of the wo More

Maj. Jessica Acosta is from the small town of Tehachapi, Calif., and had high hopes of one day working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While working toward her degree in criminal justice at California More

Master Sgt. Carla Perez thought she had one shot at greatness. She went to college directly after high school and enrolled in 18 credit hours at the University of Montana, not knowing if she could afford to att More

Brig. Gen. Mikey Kloster, commanding general of the Army Reserve’s 98th Training Division (IET), one of the first women to command a training division in the Army Reserve.

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Carmen Baldrich, a transportation officer for the 3rd Infantry Division, is currently on deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Kandahar Airfield, Kandahar province, Afghan More

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st class LaShawnda Cole, a senior logistics non-commissioned officer for the 3rd Infantry Division, poses for a photo while on deployment to Kandahar Airfield, Kandahaer province, Afghanistan, M More

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Norma Drayton, a joint visitors bureau action officer for the 3rd Infantry Division, poses for a photo in front of the unit mascot at Kandahar Airfield, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 1 More

A photo of U.S. Army Maj. Tamisha Norris, an information operations planner for the 3rd Infantry Division, at Kandahar Airfield, Kandhar province, Afghanistan, March 12, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ashley B More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Alaina Broome, a broadcast journalist for the 102nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, poses for a photo while on deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Kandahar Airfield, Ka More

U.S. Army Pfc. Sarah Wood, a health care specialist with the 3rd Infantry Division, poses for a photo while on deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Kandahar Airfield, Kandahar province, Afghan More

Vice Adm. Michelle Howard, U.S. Fleet Forces Command deputy commander, speaks to personnel during Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads Women's History Month observance at Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command More

Col. Sharon Hunter, 97th Medical Group commander, speaks with Tech. Sgt. Michelle Wilkerson, 97th Medical Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of TriCare operation and patient administration, at t More

U.S. Army Sgt. Cassandra Bustillo, left, a motor transport operator with the 541st Transportation Company, calibrates a .50-caliber machine gun while preparing to participate in a Best Warrior Competition at Ka More

Australian Army Cpt. Sarah Nielsen displays a traditional veil, gifted by local tribal leaders during a shura in Khas Uruzgan of Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, March 16, 2013. Nielsen is a logistics officer wit More

Sgt. Steffany Ismaili, an aviation electrician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, conducts sword manual during a morning colors ceremony, in honor of Women’s History Month, aboard Marine Corps Air Stat More

Daphany Horne, store manager at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, pose in front the exchange March 19, 2013. Horne has worked for AAFES for more than 22 years and is m More

Master Sgt. Rayshawnda Davis, 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, interacts with Third Country National employees in the Desert Winds dining facility at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia, More

Maj. Meghan Fridley, 58th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III evaluator pilot, conducts a pre-flight inspection in the cockpit of a C-17, March 19, 2013. Fridley shared her journey to becoming a female Air Fo More

(Left to right) Staff Sgt. Summer Robinson of Troy, Ill., Spc. Brie Bastian of Gainesville, Texas, and Spc. Kaely Recore, all with Company B, 2nd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd More

Spc. Alexandra Lebron, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with the 623rd Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Spc. Sasha Ramirez, an automated logistical specialist with the 175th Transport More

Dorothy Kurtz, a member of the Coast Guard Women's Reserve also known as Semper Paratus Always Ready, speaks to members of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Fla., during an event to celebrate Women's History M More

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeanne Y. Pace the commander and band master of the 1st Cavalry Division Band, directs the band at the III Corps and Fort Hood retiree celebration in Fort Hood, Texas, March 22 More

Anisia Rios is a 7-year-old Girl Scout with a prowess of selling cookies and planning for the future.

Peggy Gristeau is tough. She is a mom, wife and a Marine. She doesn’t juggle her responsibilities, she embraces them, making them who she is.

Staff Sgt. Sophia Mantzouris, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, conducts a 7 Day Desert inspection on a C-130 Hercules at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia March 23, 2013. Mantzouris is depl More

Col. Virginia Garner, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group commander, directs operations during a mass casualty exercise at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia, March 26, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo b More

Rear Adm. Karl Schultz, 11th District commander, talks to individuals at the Women's Leadership Symposium at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif., March 27, 2013. The symposium was an event to celebrate Women' More

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, center, the representative for the 2nd District of Hawaii, speaks of her experiences as a politician and a Soldier in the Hawaii National Guard during the Women's History Month obse More

Service members applaud U.S. Army Lt. Col. Yvette Lane-Rose, center, after she gives a speech during the Women’s History Observance event at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, March 28, 2013. Lane-Rose is an opera More

Shannan M. Dixon, right, the director of Master's in the Genetic Counseling Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, speaks to an audience as the guest speaker of the Women's History Month obse More

A welcome cake for Noreen Riols, World War II British spy, during the Women's History Month, Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy, March 28, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Paolo Bovo, JMTC Vicenza – Italy/Released)

The Air Assault Band, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), performs “Isn’t She Lovely” at the 2013 Bagram Women’s History Month Observance at Bagram Air Field, March 29, 2013. The event celebrated prominent w More

Brandy Soublet grew up with two immigrant parents who worked hard to give their children a good life. Their inspiration caused her to work hard. She took leadership roles in her early schooling, earned her mast More

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William D. Razz Waff, commanding general of the 99th Regional Support Command, left, hosts a promotion ceremony April 6, 2013 for Brig. Gen. Mikey Kloster, commanding general of the 98th Tra More

Col. Lorrie Oldham, deputy commander for Clinical Services at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with the 452nd Combat Support Hospital (Forward), examines a patient Feb. 24, 2014. Oldham has served in the Army for 30 years More

For Women's History Month U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Marcia A. Montoya, 4th Security Forces Squadron defender, is highlighted among her peers as someone who "strives to be the best and to lead others to do th More

An infographic promoting Women’s History Month from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). (U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew J. Ulm/Released)

The Minnesota National Guard’s top female enlisted leaders held a seminar March 8, 2014, for career development focused on addressing barriers that may prevent females from rising to the organization’s highest More

Members of the Regional Command (South) command group, coalition service members and supports of Regional Command (South) gather for a ceremony to celebrate International Women’s Day, March 8, 2014, at Kandahar More