The USS Constitution Museum and USS Constitution hosted Rad Women of USS Constitution, a free virtual panel discussion on Wednesday, March 31.
Current and former female crew members of “Old Ironsides” joined the Museum for an insightful discussion about leadership and the role women play in shaping today’s United States Navy. From exploring the depths of the sea aboard a submarine to serving on the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, 21% of all active-duty sailors in the United States are women. In this online program, attendees heard from four incredible women who serve on USS Constitution and learned about their career paths and the skills needed to be a leader in the U.S. Navy.
The program was moderated by Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMDCM) Nancy Estrada, USN (Ret.), with questions and input from virtual attendees. CMDCM Estrada joined the U.S. Navy in 1990 and served on USS G.H.W. Bush and USS Nimitz, eventually being promoted to the Command Senior Chief program for duty on USS Constitution. Her tour culminated with her selection as the Command Master Chief for NAS Sigonella.
Speakers included:
•Command Senior Chief (CMDCS), Angela Collins, USS Constitution. CMDCS Collins is the principal enlisted advisor to the Commanding Officer, the most senior enlisted person assigned to the command.
•Lieutenant (LT) Sasha Lowry, USS Constitution. LT Lowry is an Operations Officer and the principal advisor to the Executive Officer. She is responsible for all daily operations of the ship and crew, which includes scheduling, facilities management, and watchbills.
•Aircrew Survival Equipmentman (PR2) Kimberly Watson, USS Constitution. PR2 Watson is currently assigned to Deck Department as the Facilities Assistant Leading Petty Officer. She leads the execution of facilities upkeep and repair.
•Seaman (SN) Melanie “Santos” Santosrangel, USS Constitution. SN Santosrangel has just completed bootcamp. She was selected to serve on “Old Ironsides” due to her outstanding performance.
This event has been made possible thanks to the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This virtual program is part of an overall Museum initiative to serve the public at home. It includes a robust outreach and visitor engagement plan, offering videos, blog posts, collection highlights, and more.