John,

When I joined the Naval Academy at 17, only 17 years had passed since they began allowing women to serve in the Navy.

My parents always supported my interests, even if they weren’t typical for girls at the time, so the Naval Academy was quite a culture shock. I was one of just a few women there, and our male classmates constantly underestimated us.

My parents, Herb & Michelle, at my induction into the Naval Academy.

In fact, they didn’t respect me until they found out I earned a 4.0 and was one of the first women ever accepted into the Naval Academy’s Nuclear Program. I went on to spend 20 years in the Navy. It wasn’t always easy, but it was absolutely the right choice.

John, I’ve spent my entire career working in male-dominated fields. Now, I utilize those experiences to fight for women in our armed forces. They’ve made huge sacrifices to keep us safe, and I’m honored to return the favor.

I want to continue doing this crucial work, but I have an uphill battle ahead of me. Will you chip in $5, $10, $25 (or whatever amount makes sense for you) to help me in this fight?

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:

Thank you,
Elaine