A 1982 Naval Academy graduate, Rear Adm. Katherine Gregory became the first woman to serve as the executive officer (1995) and commanding officer of an active duty Seabee battalion. She was also the first woman to command NAVFAC Pacific (2010); the civil engineer corps’ (CEC) first woman flag officer (2009), and the first woman chief of the CEC (2012). Gregory was among the first women to join the Seabees in 1986, where she served as a company commander and was the only woman officer with just a few women enlisted in the company. She spent time supporting the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and took part in relief efforts following both Hurricane Katrina (2005) and the Haiti earthquake (2010). She retired from the Navy in 2015 after 34 years of service.

Last Updated: 31 March 2023