For the first time in the 224 years since its maiden voyage the heavy frigate USS Constitution [ussconstitutionmuseum.org] has a female captain. Cmdr. Billie J. Farrell took the helm of the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat during a change-of-command ceremony in Boston Harbor in January 2022. Among other assignments, the 2004 U.S. Naval Academy graduate previously served as the combat systems officer on USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and the executive officer aboard USS Vicksburg (CG 69), both guided missile cruisers. The mother of two young children, she is married to a fellow Navy officer, Cmdr. Paul Farrell. Military History caught up with the new skipper of “Old Ironsides”(see related story, P. 22) to get her thoughts about serving on such a historic ship.
How does it feel to be the first woman to command Constitution?
It’s amazing. It’s just a great opportunity to be here and be in this position. Women have been serving as commanders of combatants for the Navy since 1998. While it’s unique for this ship, it is not unique for the surface Navy. And so I get to is the first woman in command of an aircraft carrier on deployment. More than 70,000 women serve in the Navy today. This provides a great platform to showcase the amazing things they’re doing across the world.
