First woman to command Royal Navy warship takes helm
Four hundred and fifty years after the founding of the modern Royal Navy, a woman will take command of a major British warship on Tuesday for the first time. Women have captained smaller vessels, likesuch as minesweepers, but not the large frigates and destroyers, which are regarded as the bulwarks of the fleet. Breaking this significant glass ceiling is Commander Sarah West, who is taking charge of the modern Type 23-frigate, HMS Portland, currently in Rosyth.
The Royal Navy described it as a historic moment, one that may help to encourage more women to consider a career in the armed forces, where the gender imbalance is more than 10 to one.
West, 40, was trained as a warfare officer and has spent time in the Gulf with HMS Sheffield; she also helped to coordinate the navy’s contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
“The navy has had women commanders before, but none of them have made that leap up to the big warships,” said a defence official. “It is a significant step up, but she definitely has the experience to do this.”
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/05/22/first-woman-to-command-royal-navy-warship-takes-helm/
= new reply since forum marked as read
