Quick Facts
Biography
Beverly Kelley was the first woman to command a U.S. military vessel.
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.
Career
Kelley was the first woman to command a Coast Guard cutter, a 95-foot patrol boat USCGC Cape Newagenin April 1979. In 1996, she was also the first woman to command a medium endurance cutter, USCGC Northland In 2000, she became commander of the high endurance cutter,USCGC Boutwell, and made history as the first woman ever to do so. She retired on April 22, 2006 at the rank of captain.
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
