Historic Waves at Naval Academy, Rear Adm. Yvette Davids Nominated as First Female Leader
Originally published by Susan O’Brien for Hoodline
History is in the making at the U.S. Naval Academy as Rear Adm. Yvette Davids is slated to become its first female leader since the institution’s founding in 1845. San Antonio native Davids, who is also the first Latina to command a U.S. Navy warship has been nominated for a promotion to vice admiral and, pending Senate confirmation, will take the helm at the esteemed academy. Her pioneering nomination by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael M. Gilday was announced with the summer induction in mind.
A highly decorated officer, David’s career has been marked by a series of barrier-breaking advancements. According to Express News, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro lauded her upcoming role, posting that she will be a “great mentor for the next generation of Navy leaders.” Her appointment, it seems, is a testament to the Navy’s evolving landscape, one that is gradually embracing the once-unrealized potential of women in its higher ranks.
Davids’ ascension to the post comes nearly fifty years after President Gerald Ford’s 1975 legislative action mandating that the previously all-male service academies begin admitting women. This change faced considerable doubt and resistance at the time, questioning the validity and impact of integrating women into these esteemed military institutions. With David’s impending confirmation, the U.S. Military Academy would remain the only service academy without a female superintendent.