Fran McKee
Encyclopedia
Fran McKee was the first female line officer to hold the rank of Rear Admiral
in the United States Navy
. She was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (Lower Half) on June 1, 1976 and earned her second star in November 1978. Rear Admiral McKee was one of the first two women selected to attend the Naval War College
, and was the first woman to command an activity of the Naval Security Group Command.
Rear Admiral McKee retired from the Navy in 1981, and died on March 3, 2002, aged 75, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage; she was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery
on April 8, 2002. A reception was held in the Women in Military Service for America Memorial
at Arlington, Virginia.
. She was commissioned as ensign
on December 4, 1950, and spent the next four years in the Office of Naval Research
as Assistant to the Director, Physical Science Division, and then as Administrative Aide to the Chief of Naval Research. In May 1954 she became Women Procurement Officer at Navy Recruiting Station and Office of Naval Officer Procurement in Boston, Massachusetts.
After attending the General Line School, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
, Monterey, California, in September 1957 she was appointed Personnel Officer at Naval Air Station Port Lyautey
, Morocco. From September 1958 she was Training Coordinator at the Damage Control School, Treasure Island, San Francisco, California.
McKee then served as Classification/Mobilization Officer on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Air Reserve Training from January 1962; as Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Women Officers School, Newport, Rhode Island, from June 1965; and as Personnel Officer at Naval Station Rota, Spain, from October 1967.
In August 1969 McKee reported to the Naval War College
in Newport, Rhode Island, as one of the first two women selected to attend the regular curriculum, graduating in June 1970.
She was then appointed Head of the Special Inquiries and Publication Section, Officer Distribution Division of the Bureau of Naval Personnel in June 1970, and served as Deputy Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Human Goals from September 1972.
From September 1973 to May 1976, with the rank of Captain, McKee commanded the Naval Security Group Activity at Fort George G. Meade
, Maryland. She was the first woman assigned to head an activity of the Naval Security Group Command.
In February 1976, McKee became the first woman line officer to be selected for flag rank
. From June 1, 1976, with the rank of rear admiral (lower half), she was Director of Naval Education Development at the Naval Education and Training Command, Pensacola, Florida, and from June 1, 1978, Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Human Resource Management with additional duty as Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Human Resource Management). She received promotion to rear admiral (upper half) in November 1978.
McKee retired from the Navy in 1981.
in 1950. She graduated from the Naval Line Officer's School, the Naval Postgraduate School
and the Naval War College
. McKee earned a master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University
, Washington, D.C.
in 1970. McKee also received an honorary doctorate in public administration from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy
.
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. She was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (Lower Half) on June 1, 1976 and earned her second star in November 1978. Rear Admiral McKee was one of the first two women selected to attend the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
, and was the first woman to command an activity of the Naval Security Group Command.
Rear Admiral McKee retired from the Navy in 1981, and died on March 3, 2002, aged 75, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage; she was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
on April 8, 2002. A reception was held in the Women in Military Service for America Memorial
Women in Military Service for America Memorial
The Women in Military Service for America Memorial is located at the Ceremonial Entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and honors all women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. New York architects Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi, husband and wife, designed the memorial...
at Arlington, Virginia.
Military biography
McKee was born in Florence, AlabamaFlorence, Alabama
Florence is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the northwestern corner of the state.According to the 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city's population was 36,721....
. She was commissioned as ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
on December 4, 1950, and spent the next four years in the Office of Naval Research
Office of Naval Research
The Office of Naval Research , headquartered in Arlington, Virginia , is the office within the United States Department of the Navy that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S...
as Assistant to the Director, Physical Science Division, and then as Administrative Aide to the Chief of Naval Research. In May 1954 she became Women Procurement Officer at Navy Recruiting Station and Office of Naval Officer Procurement in Boston, Massachusetts.
After attending the General Line School, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
, Monterey, California, in September 1957 she was appointed Personnel Officer at Naval Air Station Port Lyautey
Naval Air Station Port Lyautey
Naval Air Station Port Lyautey is a former United States Navy Naval Air Station in Morocco, about 5 km north-northwest of Kenitra ; about 120 km northeast of Casablanca. The Naval Air Station was turned over to the Royal Moroccan Air Force and the last of US military personnel departed...
, Morocco. From September 1958 she was Training Coordinator at the Damage Control School, Treasure Island, San Francisco, California.
McKee then served as Classification/Mobilization Officer on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Air Reserve Training from January 1962; as Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Women Officers School, Newport, Rhode Island, from June 1965; and as Personnel Officer at Naval Station Rota, Spain, from October 1967.
In August 1969 McKee reported to the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
in Newport, Rhode Island, as one of the first two women selected to attend the regular curriculum, graduating in June 1970.
She was then appointed Head of the Special Inquiries and Publication Section, Officer Distribution Division of the Bureau of Naval Personnel in June 1970, and served as Deputy Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Human Goals from September 1972.
From September 1973 to May 1976, with the rank of Captain, McKee commanded the Naval Security Group Activity at Fort George G. Meade
Fort George G. Meade
Fort George G. Meade is a United States Army installation that includes the Defense Information School, the United States Army Field Band, and the headquarters of United States Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, and the Defense Courier Service...
, Maryland. She was the first woman assigned to head an activity of the Naval Security Group Command.
In February 1976, McKee became the first woman line officer to be selected for flag rank
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
. From June 1, 1976, with the rank of rear admiral (lower half), she was Director of Naval Education Development at the Naval Education and Training Command, Pensacola, Florida, and from June 1, 1978, Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Human Resource Management with additional duty as Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Human Resource Management). She received promotion to rear admiral (upper half) in November 1978.
McKee retired from the Navy in 1981.
Education
McKee graduated with a degree in chemistry from the University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
in 1950. She graduated from the Naval Line Officer's School, the Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
and the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
. McKee earned a master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1970. McKee also received an honorary doctorate in public administration from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a regionally accredited, coeducational, state college offering undergraduate degrees in maritime-related fields, as well as graduate degrees and professional studies. Established in 1891, Mass Maritime is the second oldest state maritime academy in the country...
.