Billie J. Farrell

Billie J. Farrell
A white woman in a black US Navy uniform is sitting at a table with her hands folder upon it; she is smiling and looking into the camera.
Commander Farrell (May 2020)
Born1982 or 1983 (age 41–42)
Education
OccupationSailor
SpousePaul Farrell
Children2
Military career
BranchUnited States Navy
Years2004–present
RankCommander
Unit
CommandsUSS Constitution

Billie J. Farrell (born 1982 or 1983) is an officer in the United States Navy. In 2023, she became the first woman to command the USS Constitution.

Personal life

Born in 1982 or 1983,[1] Billie J. Farrell hails from Paducah, Kentucky.[2] She graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in political science,[3] and has a 2009 Master of Science in operations management from the University of Arkansas.[4] As of January 2022, Farrell and her husband, fellow naval officer Paul Farrell, lived in Charlestown, Boston with their two children aged six and three.[5]

US Navy

Commander Farrell in her chronistic Constitution uniform (January 2022)

Farrell's first Navy assignment was aboard USS Vella Gulf (CG-72), first as electrical officer and then as navigator. She was then assigned to Millington, Tennessee before reporting to USS San Jacinto (CG-56) as weapons officer and then combat systems officer. Following her return to the US Naval Academy as the deputy director for professional development, Farrell was assigned to the Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic as the deputy N3.[3] After a stint as the executive officer of USS Vicksburg (CG-69),[2] on 21 January 2022, Commander Farrell was assigned to USS Constitution for a two-year assignment as the first woman commanding officer in the ship's 224-year history.[5]

As of February 2021, Farrell had received two Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and three Meritorious Unit Commendations.[3]

References

  1. ^ Pratt, Mark (21 January 2022). "'Perfect leader': Woman takes command of USS Constitution". Boston.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022. Cmdr. Billie J. Farrell took command Friday of the Navy's most historic vessel.
  2. ^ a b "Billie J. Farrell, first woman to command the 224-year-old warship USS Constitution, takes over this week". CBS News. 17 January 2022. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "CMDR. Billie J. Farrell". Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic. 23 February 2021. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022. Executive Officer, USS Vicksburg (CG 69)
  4. ^ Bartlette, DeLani (21 January 2022). "U of A Alumna Named First Woman Commander of USS Constitution". University of Arkansas. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  5. ^ a b MacQuarrie, Brian (21 January 2022). "New commander of USS Constitution to blend old, new in keeping Navy showpiece ship-shape". The Boston Globe. ISSN 0743-1791. OCLC 66652431. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022 – via MSN.