15 Facts About Fran McKee

Fran McKee was the first female line officer to hold the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.

Fran McKee was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral on June 1,1976 and earned her second star in November 1978.

Rear Admiral McKee was one of the first two women selected to attend the Naval War College, and was the first woman to command an activity of the Naval Security Group Command.

Rear Admiral Fran McKee retired from the Navy in 1981, and died on March 3,2002, aged 75, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage; she was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on April 8,2002.

Fran McKee was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 2007.

Fran McKee was commissioned as ensign on December 4,1950, and spent the next four years in the Office of Naval Research as Assistant to the Director, Physical Science Division, and then as Administrative Aide to the Chief of Naval Research.

Fran McKee was then appointed Head of the Special Inquiries and Publication Section, Officer Distribution Division of the Bureau of Naval Personnel in June 1970, and served as Deputy Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Human Goals from September 1972.

From September 1973 to May 1976, with the rank of captain, McKee commanded the Naval Security Group Activity at Fort George G Meade, Maryland.

Fran McKee was the first woman assigned to head an activity of the Naval Security Group Command.

In February 1976, Fran McKee became the first woman line officer to be selected for flag rank.

Fran McKee received promotion to rear admiral in November 1978.

Fran McKee graduated with a degree in chemistry from the University of Alabama in 1950.

Fran McKee graduated from the Naval Line Officer's School, the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval War College.

Fran McKee earned a master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University, Washington, DC in 1970.

Fran McKee received an honorary doctorate in public administration from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.