Fran McKee

Infobox Military Person
name=Fran McKee
born= 1926
died= March 3, death year and age|2002|1926


caption=Rear Admiral Fran McKee
nickname=
placeofbirth= Florence, Alabama
placeofdeath= Annandale, Virginia
placeofburial= Arlington National Cemetery
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Navy
serviceyears= 1950 - 1981
rank= Rear Admiral
unit= Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Human Resource Management
commands=
battles=
awards= Legion of Merit (2)
Meritorious Service Medal
relations=
laterwork= Member of the Armed Services YMCA of USA National Committee, Chair of the Legislative and Employment Committee of the VA Women's Advisory Committee for Veterans Affairs, member of the National Advisory Committee for the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation

Fran McKee (1926 - March 32002) was the first female line officer to hold the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. She was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (Lower Half) on June 1, 1976 and earned her second star in November 1978. Rear Admiral McKee was one of the first two women selected to attend the Naval War College, and was the first woman to command an activity of the Naval Security Group Command. RADM McKee retired from the Navy in 1981. RADM McKee died on March 3, 2002 after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage; she was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on April 8, 2002. A reception was held in the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington, Virginia.

Military biography

Rear Admiral (retired) McKee was born in Florence, Alabama. She was commissioned an Ensign on December 4, 1950.

1950 - 1954: Office of Naval Research as Assistant to the Director, Physical Science Division and then as Administrative Aide to the Chief of Naval Research.

May, 1954: Women Procurement Officer at Navy Recruiting Station and Office of Naval Officer Procurement in Boston, Massachusetts.

General Line School, U. S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California.

September 1957: Personnel Officer, Naval Air Station, Port Lyautey, Morocco. September 1958: Training Coordinator, Damage Control School, Treasure Island, San Francisco, California.

January 1962: Classification/Mobilization Officer on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Air Reserve Training. June 1965: Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Women Officers School, Newport, R. I.

October, 1967: Personnel Officer, U. S. Naval Station, Rota, Spain. August 1969: Reported to the Naval War College in Newport, R. I. as one of the first two women selected to attend the regular curriculum, graduating in June 1970.

June 1970: Bureau of Naval Personnel as Head, Special Inquiries and Publication Section, Officer Distribution Division.

September, 1972: Deputy Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Human Goals.

From September 1973, to May 1976, then CAPT McKee commanded the Naval Security Group Activity, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. She was the first woman assigned to head an activity of the Naval Security Group Command.

In February 1976, Rear Admiral McKee became the first woman line officer to be selected for flag rank.

June 1, 1976: Director of Naval Education Development at the Naval Education and Training Command, Pensacola, Florida.

June 1, 1978: Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Human Resource Management with additional duty as Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Human Resource Management).

RADM McKee retired from the Navy in 1981.

Education

RADM McKee graduated with a degree in chemistry from the University of Alabama in 1950. She graduated from the Naval Line Officer's School, the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval War College. RADM McKee earned a master's degree in in International Affairs from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. in 1970. RADM McKee also received an honorary doctorate in public administration from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

ee also

Women in the United States Navy

References

* [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/fmckee.htm Arlington National Cemetery]
* [http://state.tn.us/sos/acts/103/pub/pc0609.pdf An Act to name the bridge spanning Duck River on U.S. Highway 43 in Maury County, Tennessee in honor of the late Rear Admiral Fran McKee, United States Navy (Retired)]
* [http://www.archives.state.al.us/famous/academy/f_mckee.html Biographical sketch prepared for induction into the Alabama Academy of Honor]
* [http://www.awhf.org/mckee.htm Alabama Women's Hall of Fame]