US Naval Academy welcomes first Black woman to serve as brigade commander

The US Naval Academy has welcomed the first Black woman to serve in the role of brigade commander.

According to the press release, Midshipman 1st Class Sydney Barber will be taking on the role in the spring semester.

The semester-long role is the highest position in the brigade and entails leading fellow students at the US Naval Academy.

The press release states that Midshipman 1st Class Ryan Chapman is currently serving as brigade commander.

"She is a catalyst for action, a visionary, a listener, a doer, and a person driven by compassion, by faith, by a fierce sense of passion and heart full of love," said Chapman, according to the press release. "Sydney is the perfect person to lead the brigade."

The brigade commander is chosen by senior leadership from the Commandant's staff following an application and interview procedure.

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The first woman to serve in the role was Midshipman 1st Class Juliane Gallina from the class of 1992. Gallina led as the brigade commander in the fall of 1991.

As well as being named the first Black woman in the role, Barber is also the 16th woman chosen for the top position in the 44 years that women have been allowed to participate in the Naval Academy.

"Earning the title of brigade commander speaks volumes, but the title itself is not nearly as significant as the opportunity it brings to lead a team in doing something I believe will be truly special," said Barber, per the press release.

"I am humbled to play a small role in this momentous season of American history," she added.

Lt. Cmdr. Darby Yeager, a member of the US Naval Academy’s Truman Scholarship selection committee, said that Barber stood out due to her "exemplary record" and intent on making the world a "better place".

"We were incredibly proud to have Sydney represent the Naval Academy in her Truman Scholarship interview this year," Yeager added.

Janie Mines, who was the first Black woman to graduate from the Naval Academy back in 1980, took to LinkedIn to "thank" Barber for her accomplishment 40 years after her own graduation.

She wrote: "This bought me to tears. This young woman, Midshipman Sydney Barber, will be the first Black Female Brigade Commander at the US Naval Academy. 40 years later. Thank you, Sydney! Love you!"

Per CBS News, this comes after Lieutenant Madeline Swegle became the US Navy's first Black female tactical fighter pilot earlier this year in July.