This article lists events involving Women in warfare and the military in the United States since 2011. For the previous decade, see Timeline of women in warfare and the military in the United States, 2000–2010.
2011
1 March: Kristin Werner became the first female Chief Gunner's Mate in the Coast Guard. March: Air Force Major General Margaret Woodward, 51, became the first American woman to lead a combat air campaign. She directed the airstrikes over Libya for 11 days, until NATO took over. 3 June: RADM Sandra Stosz assumed command of the Coast Guard Academy, becoming the first woman superintendent of that institution, and the first woman to command any U.S. service academy. 4 June: Heidi Shyu became United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology. 17 June: BGen Loretta Reynolds, USMC becomes the first female commander at Parris Island. Furthermore, while serving a yearlong tour of duty with the group at Camp Leatherneck Afghanistan, Reynolds became the "first female Marine to command battle space", according to the website for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. She was the first woman in the Marine Corps to command units in a war zone. June: RDML Gretchen S. Herbert, USN, assumed command of Navy Cyber Forces at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Virginia. 29 September: Marcia M. Anderson became the first African-American woman to achieve the rank of major general in the United States Army Reserve. On 16 December 2011, 24-year-old Justine Sacco became the first woman to assume command of Delta FSC, 26th Brigade Support Battalion, forward support company of 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry 3rd Brigade Combat Team at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. President Barack Obama named Brenda Sue Fulton to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, making her the first openly gay or lesbian person to serve there. She is the executive director and co-founder of Knights Out, an organization of LGBT West Point graduates and their supporters, and a founding member of OutServe. The first all-female U.S. Air Force combat mission is flown by Maj. Christine Mau, Maj. Tracy Schmidt, Capt. Leigh Larkin, and Capt. Jennifer Morton, called the "Strike Eagles of 'Dudette 07'." They fly two F-15E jets in a sortie over Afghanistan. Capt. Donna Cottrell becomes the first female commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard’s one-of-a-kind tactical drug interdiction helicopter squadron. For the first time, four sisters from the same family (the Robillards) graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Julie Bentz became the first female brigadier general in the American National Guard. Jessica Ray became the first female Avenger master gunner in the U.S. army. Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho became the first female U.S. Army surgeon general. The U.S. National Guard began using female engagement teams in 2011. A group of women from Port Hueneme became the first all-female team in Seabees history to take on and complete a construction project. The USS Constitution announces the selection of senior chief aviation maintenance administrationman (AW/SW) Roxanne Rhoades, making her the first woman to serve as the command senior chief on board Old Ironsides. Margaret W. Burcham became the first woman to command a U.S. Corps of Engineers division when she took command of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division located in Cincinnati, OH. The division consists of seven engineer districts that include over 4800 personnel operating in a 17 state region with the responsibility for the federal water resource development throughout the Great Lakes and Ohio River basins. The first group of U.S. female submariners completed nuclear power school and officially reported on board two ballistic and two guided missile submarines in November 2011. Pratima Dharm, born in India, became the U.S. Army's first Hindu chaplain, as well as the first female chaplain of Indian descent in the U.S. Army. Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta and Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell became the first gay couple to share the US Navy tradition of the "first kiss" on the pier. Brenda Sue Fulton was named to the West Point Board of Visitors, making her the first openly gay member of the board that advises the academy.