On Friday 12th of July the first handover of command between two female Captains of an Irish Naval Service Vessel will take place in Waterford City.
The ceremony will take place in Waterford City Quays on board the L.É. AOIFE, where outgoing Captain, Lieutenant Commander Erika Downing will hand over to Lieutenant Commander Marie Gleeson at 5pm on Friday 12th of July. Waterford City is the adopted port of the L.É. AOIFE and all Naval Vessels are individually associated with an Irish Port.
Female personnel first joined the Irish Naval Service in 1995. Eighteen years later female personnel are fully operationally deployed and integrated, making significant contributions to the Naval Service whilst advancing their careers in line with their male colleagues. Currently one in four of serving Naval Officers are female and earlier this year the Navy promoted two female Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs) to the senior enlisted rank of Petty Officer.
[mappress] Press Release, July 15, 2013