From the Revolutionary War to current conflicts, women have played a crucial role in the security of our nation and the success of the U.S. Navy. Join us as we celebrate Women's History Month by profiling women leaders and pioneers across the Navy.
Commander Elizabeth Sanabia is currently serving as a Permanent Military Professor at the United States Naval Academy.
Q: Why did you decide to join/serve the Navy?
A: I joined the military to serve my country. I chose the Navy because I thought flying a jet off of a carrier would probably be the coolest thing ever. At the Naval Academy I figured out I liked parachuting out of planes more than I liked flying them, and I was fortunate to spend the first 6 years of my career as a Special Operations officer.
I stayed in the Navy because of the people. I have always found it very rewarding to watch my people excel — no matter whether they were earning warfare qualifications, reenlisting, making Chief, or screening for Department Head, XO, or command. To simultaneously execute the mission at hand while positively impacting the lives of Sailors and young officers is a challenge I really enjoy.
Q: Who have your role models or mentors been that have influenced you or helped to guide you?
A: I have learned a great deal from many exceptional leaders and am particularly grateful for the time and mentorship of these 11 listed at the rank and command where I met them: Major Nicholson (USNA), Lt. Cmdr. Scholley (CNSL), Cmdr.Titley (7th Fleet), Capt. Easton (PORT ROYAL) Capt. Allard (BATAAN), Capt. Yerger (BATAAN); Chief Black (USNA), Master Diver Dennis (GRASP), Chief Duffy (GRASP), Chief Okoniewski (BATAAN), and Dr. Harr (NPS).
Q: Please tell us a story about someone, perhaps in your family or otherwise, who has influenced you or challenged you to become more than you ever thought you might.
A: My children — without a doubt. They provide continuous motivation to give my best effort, to pursue opportunities and tackle challenges, to find the good in others and in myself, to learn from mistakes, to love life, and to keep a sense of humor. I'm tremendously grateful for the support of my entire family.
Q: Please tell us which past assignments are the most memorable to you and why.
A: To me the best jobs in the Navy are at the tip of the spear and at commands where there is an opportunity to make a relevant impact. Diving to retrieve aircraft from the sea floor, driving a ship through the Suez Canal and during flight ops in the northern Arabian Gulf, deploying ocean sensors from a C-130 in the middle of a hurricane, and teaching midshipmen at the Naval Academy have been among my favorites. The best people in the Navy are the ones who are doing those challenging jobs with you, day in and day out.
Q: What does being a leader in the Navy mean to you?
A: Be competent. Take care of your people. Listen to your Chief. Lead by example.
Commander Tracie Severson is currently serving as a Permanent Military Professor at the United States Naval Academy.
Q: How did you decide to join the Navy?
A: In junior high school I knew I wanted to serve in the military and attend a Service Academy. My first choice was the Air Force Academy — mainly because I wanted to fly. However, during the application process in high school, I did more research on the various missions and capabilities of the Navy and knew it had much to offer a junior officer. I finally decided on the Naval Academy after I received an early acceptance letter. I felt it was a sign that I needed to start my military journey in Annapolis.
Q: Who have your role models or mentors been that have influenced you or helped to guide you throughout your Navy career?
A: I would say my first role model that influenced me in my Navy career would be my grandfather who served in the Army during World War II. He was also the first person to salute me after my commissioning.
My family isn't a military family so I always looked to him as a kindred spirit. Since my commissioning, I've been blessed to serve in three different career paths in the Navy (Surface Warfare, Engineering Duty, and now Permanent Military Professor). In each of these mission areas I have had the privilege of working side by side with amazing men and women that taught me about leadership and taking care of others. In the SWO community, it was my DESRON-23 Executive Officer, CDR Jerry Provencher. He taught me the right balance of commitment to the Navy and to your family. As an Engineering Duty Officer, both CAPT Al Grecco and RADM Alan Hicks challenged me to grow into a competent and capable officer. They also supported my transition to the PMP community; without their support I wouldn't be teaching at the Naval Academy today.
Q: Can you share a story about someone, perhaps someone in your family or otherwise, who has influenced you or challenged you to become more than perhaps even you ever thought you might.
A: I would have to say that my parents have been the most influential in shaping how I handle my most difficult and challenging experiences. They taught both my sister and I to have confidence in ourselves and in our capabilities, especially during our moments of self-doubt. They also taught us to choose our goals wisely and follow our hearts. And that at times being more than what we thought we could be actually meant taking a step back and reevaluating what means the most.
Q: Please tell us which past assignments are the most memorable to you and why?
A: The most memorable assignment I had was as part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (ABMD) program in the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). There was (and still is) an urgent need to field a ballistic missile defense capability and our program office was at the forefront of delivering this capability to the fleet. I worked with some of the most dedicated and intelligent individuals I've ever met. They truly taught me the meaning of commitment and service. I believe that my assignment as a PMP will also end up being one of my most memorable assignments. The ability to interact and influence the future officers of our Navy is not lost on me and I see my job as more than just a teacher. I learn as much from each interaction with my students as I hope they are learning from me. It is also very fitting to finish my career where it all started.
Q: What does being a leader in the Navy mean to you?
A: To answer this question it is easier for me consider the great leaders that I've met throughout my Navy career. They were all different in their own right but they had some very similar qualities about them — ones that I believe made them good leaders. First, they were honest with themselves and with others. They knew their strengths and weaknesses and didn't try to be something they weren't. Second, they took care of their people. And not just in the day to day operations but they genuinely cared about their sailors. Finally, they instilled confidence and comittment into their wardrooms. So in summary being a leader in the Navy means knowing yourself, loving the people you serve with, and doing what you can to make them feel like what they do really matters.
Lieutenant Commander Rachael Gosnell is currently serving as a Permanent Military Professor at the United States Naval Academy.
Q: How did you decide to join the Navy?
A: When I was in high school, I attended the Naval Academy's Summer Seminar program. While I had thought about military service before, Summer Seminar gave me some great insights into the expectations of Midshipmen and a career as a naval officer. I was drawn to the challenges I would face both at Annapolis and while serving in the Navy.
Q: Who have your role models or mentors been that have influenced you or helped to guide you throughout your Navy career?
A: I have been very fortunate to have incredible mentors who have served as strong role models and have also taken the time to help guide me throughout my career. I also strongly believe that my peers and subordinates have had a tremendous influence as well, inspiring me to perform at my very highest level and helping me to think about different challenges and opportunities in new ways.
Q: Can you share a story about someone, perhaps someone in your family or otherwise, who has influenced you or challenged you to become more than perhaps even you ever thought you might.
A: My identical twin sister, who also attended the Naval Academy, has continually challenged me. We have always had similar interests, and this has allowed us to constantly motivate the other to achieve more than we would have on our own.
Although our paths diverged after graduation, as she entered the Marine Corps and later left the Marines to become an attorney, we remain very close and continue to challenge each other in a positive way.
Q: Please tell us which past assignments are the most memorable to you and why?
A: Each assignment has been memorable for the unique opportunities and experiences they've afforded me, and I am grateful to have had a diverse career path to date. Of course, my first tour stands out as being particularly memorable — within a few months of checking in as the Gunnery Officer onboard the USS SHILOH (CG-67), we deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. It was a tremendous opportunity and learning experience to be part of the SHILOH team, which contributed to critical missions during OEF and the initial phase of OIF. Launching Tomahawks was certainly an experience I'll never forget!
My department head tours onboard the USS STOCKDALE (DDG-106) also provided some of my most memorable experiences. Preparing a ship for her maiden deployment is a special challenge, and it was a very rewarding experience to play a part in ensuring a successful WESTPAC deployment.
Finally, my time at the Pentagon stands out for the different perspective that it offered. It was a stark contrast from the operational fleet, but I enjoyed the opportunity to learn about different aspects of the Navy. Being a speechwriter for the Chief of Naval Operations taught me an incredible amount about the complexities of our Navy and the team that makes it so successful.
Q: What does being a leader in the Navy mean to you?
A: I've really enjoyed the challenges of being a leader in the Navy. From my very first day onboard my first ship, I was expected to lead a division of more than twenty Sailors. It's a lot to ask of our young naval officers, but this expectation also empowers young leaders to achieve great things. It's very rare to find that early emphasis on leadership in other career fields. As you become more experienced, the Navy asks more of you as a leader. You gain more confidence in yourself and your abilities, but also learn when to rely on others for support. We give our young officers a tremendous amount of responsibility and I've always enjoyed the challenge of balancing the demands of the mission with ensuring our people are taken care of.
Lieutenant Commander Kelly Welsch is currently serving as a Permanent Military Professor at the United States Naval Academy.
Q: Why did you decide to join/serve the Navy?
A: As a high school swimmer, I was lucky to be recruited by the Naval Academy. I visited Annapolis on my recruiting trip in the middle of February. Even in the midst of the Dark Ages, I could tell there was something special about the Academy and Midshipmen — who they were and who they were aspiring to be. As pre-9/11 high school kid, I didn't fully appreciate or understand everything the institution represented; yet, I detected a sense of overwhelming pride, camaraderie and sacrifice. So, when accepted, there was only one right decision for me.
Q: Who have your role models or mentors been that have influenced you or helped to guide you?
A: My mom was the one who encouraged me to consider the Academy. She confronts challenges and embraces opportunity with relentless energy and enthusiasm, epitomized in how she raised my special needs brother. I am convinced she would have made a great SWO! Her example inspires me to pursue my life and my career in similar fashion. Navy Women's Swimming former head coach, Dick Purdy, demonstrated unmatched respect for the institution and the people who served it. He believed in the Academy and was humbled by it; thus, dedicated his efforts to our personal development.
In the Fleet, my CO during my second division officer tour taught the importance of passion. He embodied it daily, in everything he did. He helped steer me for my first shore duty assignment based on my own passions. Seven years later he guided and supported me in my decision to transition into the Junior Permanent Military Professor Program (JPMP). Since returning to USNA, I have worked for several brilliant leaders/PMPs who achieved command, yet sacrificed rank and promotion at the highest levels in order to develop Midshipmen. Their commitment reinforces my role daily.
Q: Please tell us a story about someone, perhaps in your family or otherwise, who has influenced you or challenged you to become more than you ever thought you might.
A: My younger sister, Megan, has always kept me on my toes! Also a swimmer, Naval Academy graduate ('05) and SWO, she was always faster, stronger, and more resilient.
She continues to support the surface navy as a government employee and promoted quickly through the rank structure. As a mother, she demonstrates patience and grace. To this day she inspires and challenges me to be a better person and leader.
In the Navy, CO during my second division officer tour challenged his officers and crew to perform well beyond our perceived capabilities, as individuals and as a team.
At times when we thought expectations might be unattainable, we would exceed them. He demonstrated character and compassion, and invested in each of his followers according to individual needs. Because of his influence, I gained confidence in my potential as a SWO and continued my commitment as a Department Head.
Several other junior officers in his wardroom followed suit and are now on the path for command at sea — a testament to his leadership.
Q: Please tell us which past assignments are the most memorable to you and why.
A: I first discovered my passion for teaching Midshipmen as a Seamanship and Navigation instructor at the Academy. Preparing First Class Midshipmen commissioning into the SWO Community influenced my leadership style as a Department Head. As the Operations Officer onboard a DDG, the opportunity to develop sailors and junior officers while working closely with my peers to directly affect ship's mission was rewarding. Additionally, as the senior female officer onboard, I gained greater appreciation for my impact; not just on the women, but the men too. This insight compelled me to be a better mentor and leader in the Fleet and inspired me to contribute to the establishment of the Naval Academy Women's Network.
Q: What does being a leader in the Navy mean to you?
A: Building upon thoughts from my Division Director as well as something a student shared recently in class, our role as military leaders is to develop the potential in others. We must encourage and inspire those within our sphere of influence to be even better than they could imagine in support of the mission and service. This can only be achieved if we build healthy and sustainable leader-follower relationships. In reflection, my department head experiences truly made me appreciate this.