Rear Adm. Kathleen Paige became the first woman engineering duty officer (EDO) promoted to flag officer in 1996. The granddaughter of a World War II chief yeoman, she commissioned in the Navy in 1971 and was designated an EDO in 1981. While attending the Engineering Duty Officer Basic Course, she was awarded the Vice Adm. Bryan Award for academic excellence. In 2001, she became the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) first Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System Technical Director, and in 2003 became the program director, of Aegis BMD. Paige retired from the Navy in 2005 after 34 years of service.

Last Updated: 29 March 2023