ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 141218Z MAR 02 ZYB MIN PSN 101044J10
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N09//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS//N05360//
NAVADMIN 064/02
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO N09//
 
SUBJ/RADM FRAN MCKEE, USN, RET//
 
RMKS/1.  RADM FRAN MCKEE, FIRST FEMALE LINE OFFICER TO BE SELECTED
TO FLAG RANK, DIED 3 MARCH.  PRIOR TO HER SELECTION IN 1976, FEMALE
LINE OFFICERS HAD BEEN LIMITED BY LAW TO A TERMINAL RANK OF CAPTAIN.
ADMIRAL MCKEE BEGAN HER DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN 1950, AFTER BEING
COMMISSIONED FROM THE GENERAL LINE SCHOOL IN NEWPORT, R.I. HER MANY
FIRSTS INCLUDED BEING THE FIRST FEMALE OFFICER TO ATTEND THE NAVAL
WAR COLLEGE AND THE FIRST TO COMMAND A NAVAL SECURITY GROUP
ACTIVITY, AT FORT GEORGE G. MEADE IN MARYLAND.  SHE WAS A TRUE
PIONEER WHO LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE DIVERSIFICATION OF NAVY
WOMEN INTO A RANGE OF DESIGNATORS LEADING TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS AND
FLAG RANK.  AT A TIME WHEN THE NAVY WAS EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES IN CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITIES AND WOMEN IN THE
MID-1970'S, ADMIRAL MCKEE'S SUPERB PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY OF
POSITIONS MADE HER A LOGICAL CHOICE FOR PROMOTION TO FLAG RANK AND
HER ASSIGNMENT AS DIRECTOR OF NAVAL EDUCATIONAL TRAINING DEVELOPMENT
AT NETC PENSACOLA.  SHE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN SHAPING THE DECISIONS
THAT SUPPORTED EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN, EVEN AS SHE
IMPROVED NAVAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION ACROSS THE BOARD.  ADMIRAL
MCKEE SERVED WITH DISTINCTION UNTIL HER RETIREMENT IN 1981.
 
2.  A FULL HONORS INTERMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR 1500, 8 APRIL, IN
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
 
3.  RELEASED BY ADM WILLIAM J. FALLON, VICE CHIEF OF NAVAL
OPERATIONS.//
 
BT