Louise Currie Wilmot

Rear Admiral Louise Currie Wilmot USN (ret.) was the first woman to command a United States Naval base. When she retired after thirty years of service, she was the highest ranking female Naval officer.

Early life
Louise Wilmot attended Wayne Valley High School in Wayne, New Jersey. In 1964, she earned a degree in history from the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morris Township, New Jersey.

Navy career

 * Commanding Officer, Navy Recruiting District, Omaha (1979-)
 * Commander of the Navy Recruiting Area Five in Great Lakes, Michigan.(1985-)
 * Executive Assistant and Naval Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs
 * Vice Chief of Naval Education and Training in Pensacola, Florida.
 * Commander of the Naval Training Center in Orlando, Florida. (1989-)
 * Commanding Officer, Naval Base Philadelphia (1993–1994)

Admiral Wilmot retired in 1994. She was the highest ranking female Naval officer at that time.

Awards and decorations
RADM Wilmot's decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with three gold stars), the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Joint Services Commendation Medal.


 * Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg Navy Distinguished Service Medal
 * US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Superior Service Medal
 * Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit
 * Meritorious Service ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal
 * Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg Joint Service Commendation Medal

Education
Wilmot earned a Master's degree from George Washington University in 1978 and was recognized with the GW Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1994.

Post-Navy Career
Following retirement she joined Catholic Relief Services as deputy executive director of public outreach.

Her personal papers are kept by the Special Collections and Archives Department of the United States Naval Academy.