Born: 1949 (East Orange, New Jersey)
Biography:
Gail Harris (born June 23, 1949) is a former United States Navy officer, and was the highest-ranking female African American in the U.S. Navy upon her retirement in December 2001. She served as the first female intelligence officer in a Navy aviation squadron in 1973. In 1979, Captain Harris became the first female and African American instructor at the Armed Forces Air Intelligence Training Center at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado. In 1989, she became the first female and African American to lead the Intelligence Department for Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron in Rota, Spain, the largest Navy aviation squadron.
Early life and education
Harris was born on June 23, 1949, in East Orange, New Jersey, to James and Lena Harris, and was raised in Newark, New Jersey’s inner city along with her brother and sister. After high school, Captain Harris received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Drew University, in Madison, New Jersey in 1971. In 1983, she earned a master’s degree in International Studies at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of International Studies (now the Josef Korbel School of International Studies), where Condoleezza Rice was a classmate of hers.
Career
Harris entered the U.S. Navy on May 16, 1973 and was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. In October 1973 to October 1976, Harris was chosen to be the test case for women in Naval Operational Aviation Squadron, and there, she served as the air intelligence officer for Patrol Squadron 47 at Moffett Field, California, her first assignment.
At the end of 1976, she was requested by name to report to Kamiseya, Japan, to the Fleet Ocean Surveillance Information Facility and became the first female and African American female to be designated an Intelligence Watch Specialist in the U.S. Navy, as an Intelligence Watch Officer.
In April 1979, Captain Gail Harris became the U.S. Navy’s first female and African American instructor at the Armed Forces Air Intelligence Training Center at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado. There she built up the U.S. Navy’s first course on ocean surveillance information systems and taught the Anti-Submarine Warfare and Soviet Surface Operations courses.
In 1984, Captain Harris was one of the first two women assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence’s War Gaming Team Detachment at the Naval War College, and was chosen to be commander of the Soviet Union’s Theater military forces, twice during the Global War Games. In 1988, Gail was requested by name to coordinate the Defense Department’s Intelligence support for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
In 1989, she was selected to head the Intelligence Department for Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two, in Rota, Spain, becoming the first female and African American to hold this position. She led the department for the largest Navy aviation squadron, overseeing intelligence operations and contributing significantly to the squadron’s success.
Harris continued to make groundbreaking achievements throughout her career, proving that gender and race were no barriers to success in the U.S. Navy. Her strong leadership, expertise in intelligence, and dedication to her work have left a lasting impact on the Navy and paved the way for other women and minorities in the field.
Awards:
– Defense Superior Service Medal
– Legion of Merit
– Defense Meritorious Service Medal
– Meritorious Service Medal (two awards)
– Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards)
– Joint Service Achievement Medal
– Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards)
Captain Gail Harris’s remarkable achievements and contributions have not only broken barriers but have also inspired generations of women and minorities to pursue their dreams and excel in their chosen fields. Her dedication to service, professionalism, and leadership have earned her numerous awards, making her a role model for all.