Beverly Kelley
{{Short description|American military vessel commander}}
File:Beverly G. Kelley on the Bridge of USCGC Cape Newagen.jpg
Beverly G. Kelley was the first woman to command a U.S. military vessel.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/shes-beverly-not-shipwreck-kelley-and-the-first-woman-ever-to-command-a-u-s-man-of-war-vol-11-no-17/|title=She's Beverly, Not Shipwreck, Kelley—and the First Woman Ever to Command a U.S. Man-of-War|website=PEOPLE.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-13}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wgOrCQAAQBAJ&q=Beverly+Kelley+coast+guard&pg=PR9|title=Women in the United States Armed Forces: A Guide to the Issues: A Guide to the Issues|last=Iskra|first=Darlene M.|date=2010-03-23|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313374968|language=en}}
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. 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.{{Cite web|url=https://docplayer.net/55294569-Retirement-ceremony-beverly-g-kelley-captain-u-s-coast-guard.html|title=RETIREMENT CEREMONY BEVERLY G. KELLEY CAPTAIN, U.S. COAST GUARD - PDF|website=docplayer.net|access-date=2019-05-13}}
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 {{ship|USCGC|Cape Newagen|WPB-95318|6}}, on April 12, 1979.[https://docplayer.net/55294569-Retirement-ceremony-beverly-g-kelley-captain-u-s-coast-guard.html "Retirement Ceremony, Beverly G. Kelley, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard"], U.S. Coast Guard, 22 April 2006, on docplayer.net {{Cite web|url=https://www.womensmemorial.org/whm11thumbnailsketches|title=Celebrating National Women's History Month 2011|website=www.womensmemorial.org|access-date=2019-02-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=26996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923184202/http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=26996|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2015|title=Defense.gov News Article: Coast Guard Honors Centenarian, Its First Woman Commissioned Officer|website=archive.defense.gov|access-date=2019-05-13}} In 1996, she was also the first woman to command a medium endurance cutter, {{ship|USCGC|Northland|WMEC-904|6}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/always-ready-womens-crucial-role-in-the-u-s-coast-guard/|title=Always Ready: Women's Crucial Role in the U.S. Coast Guard|website=Defense Media Network|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-20}}{{Cite web|url=http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2018/03/the-long-blue-line-officer-candidate-school-and-female-trailblazers-in-the-coast-guards-officer-corps/|title=The Long Blue Line: Officer Candidate School and female trailblazers in the Coast Guard's officer corps|website=Compass|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-20}} In 2000, she became commander of a high endurance cutter, {{ship|USCGC|Boutwell|WHEC-719|6}}, and made history as the first woman ever to do so. She retired on April 22, 2006 at the rank of captain.
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.{{cite news |url=https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/news/queen_annes_county/new-boe-member-kelley-sworn-in/article_108ac682-068a-5f35-928c-4db629c7db44.html |title=New BOE member Kelley sworn in |date=May 25, 2011 |newspaper=My Eastern Shore, Maryland |accessdate=2020-11-23}} She was elected to the seat in November 2012,{{cite news |url=https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/news/queen_annes_county/harper-kelley-win-seats-on-school-board/article_f85d35bc-288d-11e2-a6f1-0019bb2963f4.html |title=Harper, Kelley win seats on school board |first=Dan |last=Baldwin |date=November 6, 2012 |newspaper=My Eastern Shore, Maryland |accessdate=2020-11-23}} re-elected in November 2016{{cite news |url=https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/qa/community/schools/kelley-and-harlow-sworn-in-to-qa-board-of-education/article_7db4c3cc-41f3-5d2e-a940-e30169f09bc1.html |title=Kelley and Harlow sworn in to QA Board of Education |first=Hannah |last=Combs |date=December 22, 2016 |newspaper=Bay Times and Record Observer |accessdate=2020-11-23}} and continued to serve through 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.qacps.org/domain/18 |title=Board of Education Members |website=Queen Anne's County Public Schools |accessdate=2020-11-23}} Kelley served as president of the board during the 2018-2019 school year.{{cite news |url=https://www.stardem.com/news/local_news/kelley-elected-school-board-president/article_f55e7912-0f8a-5533-945c-493df2a52a50.html |title=Kelley elected school board president |first=Hannah |last=Combs |date=December 21, 2018 |newspaper=The Star Democrat |location=Easton, Maryland |accessdate=2020-11-23}} She was not a candidate for re-election in November 2020.{{cite web |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2020/general_candidates/gen_cand_lists_2020_4__by_county_18.html |title=Queen Anne's County 2020 Presidential General Election Local Candidates List |date=October 30, 2020 |website=The Maryland State Board of Elections |accessdate=2020-11-23}}
Kelley became a member of the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services in March 2013{{cite web |url=https://dacowits.defense.gov/Portals/48/Documents/Reports/2013/Annual%20Report/2013_DACOWITS_Report_FINAL.pdf |title=Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services: 2013 Report |accessdate=2020-11-23}} and continued to serve on the committee through 2016.{{cite web |url=https://dacowits.defense.gov/Portals/48/Documents/Reports/2016/Annual%20Report/2016%20DACOWITS%20Report_Final.pdf |title=Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services: 2016 Report |accessdate=2020-11-23}}
Personal
Kelley is married to Kevin M. Tokarski, who is Associate Administrator for Strategic Sealift at the United States Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation.{{cite web |url=https://www.maritime.dot.gov/about-us/office-administrator/associate-administrator-strategic-sealift |title=Associate Administrator for Strategic Sealift |website=U.S. Maritime Administration |accessdate=2020-11-23}} The couple have one son.
Honors
Her military decorations during her thirty years of service include:
- Three Meritorious Service Medals
- Three Coast Guard Commendation Medals
- Two Coast Guard Achievement Medals
- One Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
- Two Coast Guard Unit Commendation Awards
- Five Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Awards
- Two Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation Awards
- One Humanitarian Service Medal
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:University of Miami alumni
Category:Naval War College alumni
Category:Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy alumni
Category:United States Coast Guard captains