News — Women in the Military

JoAnn Marie Ortloff, Fleet Master Chief, USN, Retired The Navy’s first female Numbered Fleet Command Master Chief when assigned to Commander, U.S. THIRD Fleet, 2009-2012. The Navy’s first female U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa Fleet Master Chief, May 2012-April 2015. The most senior enlisted active-duty female in the Navy at the time of her retirement in 2015. Branch of Service: United States Navy Rate/Rank: Fleet Master Chief, USN, Retired Dates of Service: 1982 – 2015 Birthplace: Suffern, New York Current Residence: Bullhead City, Arizona Spouse: Rich Ortloff Photos courtesy of FLTCM JoAnn Ortloff: JoAnn Marie Ortloff, Fleet Master Chief,...

Chief Loretto Perfectus Walsh (1896-1925) First woman to enlist in the U.S. Navy First woman to serve as Chief Petty Officer Birth: April 22, 1896, in Olyphant, PA Death: August 17, 1925, in White Haven, PA Burial: St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Olyphant, PA Branch of Service: United States Naval Reserve (USNR) Rate/Rank: Chief Yeoman (F) Dates of Service: March 21, 1917 – August 7, 1919 Awards: World War I Victory Medal Occupation: Stenographer Spouse: Frederick Bowman Chief Loretto Perfectus Walsh, 1917 Early LifeThe daughter of James J. Walsh and Catherine Cummings Walsh, Loretto Perfectus Walsh was born on April 22, 1896,...