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by Dan
Perkins
Women
are a vital part of America’s armed services,
and the Department of Defense is
committed to their full integration and
well-being. One of the institutions established
to advance the concerns of women in the military
is the Defense Department Advisory Committee
on Women in the Services (DACOWITS), which
was established in 1951, by then Secretary of
Defense, George C. Marshall.
DACOWITS provides the Department of Defense with
advice and recommendations on matters and
policies pertaining to the recruitment and
retention of highly qualified professional women
in the armed forces. The committee also examines
issues pertaining to the treatment, employment,
integration, and well-being of women throughout
the military. In 2002, the committee began
providing advice and recommendations on family
issues as they relate to the recruitment and
retention of highly qualified professional
women.
DACOWITS is composed of civilian women and men
who are appointed by the Secretary of Defense.
On June 3, 2004, Secretary of Defense Donald
H. Rumsfeld announced three new appointees:
Margaret M. Hoffman of McLean, Virginia,
Mary Nelson of Lafayette, Colorado, and
Ellen R. Sauerbrey of Baldwin, Maryland.
|
Name |
City / State |
Year
Appointed |
|
Catherine L. Aspy |
Keizer, OR |
2002 |
|
Dr. Lynda Davis |
Great Falls, VA |
2002 |
|
J. P. Duniphan |
Rapid City, SD |
2002 |
|
Bonnie Fuller Ford |
Albuquerque, NM |
2002 |
|
Margaret M. Hoffmann |
McLean, VA |
2003 |
|
Lt Gen Carol A.
Mutter,
USMC (Ret) |
Brownsburg, IN |
2002 |
|
Mary Nelson |
Lafayette, CO |
2004 |
|
Susan L. Patane |
Redlands, CA |
2002 |
|
COL Darryl Ladd
Pattillo, USAR,
(Ret) |
Austin, TX |
2002 |
|
Margaret Robson |
Washington, DC |
2002 |
|
Virginia W. Rowell |
Vienna, VA |
2002 |
|
Ellen R. Sauerbrey |
Baldwin, MD |
2004 |
|
Col Vance Shaw,
USAFR (Ret) |
McLean, VA |
2002 |
|
Rosalie (Ricky)
Silberman |
Washington, DC |
2002 |
Source: DoD
|
Carol Mutter Achieved
Many Firsts for Women in
the Military |
|
 Carol
Mutter served for
over 31 years in the
U.S. Marine Corps
attaining the rank of
Lieutenant General. Her
military experience
included leadership
positions in logistics,
data processing,
financial management,
personnel
administration, and
research, development
and acquisition. She
served on committees in
NATO, was
assigned to the U.S.
Space Command, and
served a total of five
years in Okinawa, Japan.
During
her military career,
Mutter achieved many
firsts for women:
|
First woman
to be
qualified as
Command
Center Crew
Commander/Space
Director at
U.S. Space
Command. |
|
First woman
of
general/flag
rank to
command a
major
deployable
tactical
command. |
|
First woman
Marine Major
General, and
senior woman
in all the
services at
that time. |
|
First woman
nominated by
the
President of
the U.S. for
three-star
rank. |
Now a civilian, Mutter
works
as a
consultant. Her
business has centered on
assisting companies in
winning government
contracts.
Photo courtesy of
Department of Defense |
|
|
In selecting the 13 civilian members that serve
on the committee, the Secretary of Defense seeks
to achieve a broad representation of several key
variables, including demography, professional
career fields, community service and geography.
In addition, DACOWITS members are selected on
the basis of their experience in the military,
as a member of a military family, or their
involvement with women’s or family-related
workforce issues.
DACOWITS members visit at least two military
installations each year. The Department of
Defense, the armed services and DACOWITS members
all provide input on the installations and/or
organizations considered for the visits.
The committee plays a vital role in reviewing
and evaluating current research on military
women and family issues. Based on the findings,
DACOWITS develops an annual report with
recommendations. The report is submitted to
service leadership and the secretary of defense.
Although DACOWITS is authorized under provisions
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, passed by
Congress in 1992 (Public Law 92-463), the
DACOWITS Charter is valid for only two years at
a time.
The End
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