The first female commanding officer of the USS Constitution shares career path with NUWC Division Newport workforce

ByPublicAffairsOffice

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport NEWPORT, R.I

Dressed in a full chronistic USS Constitution uniform, Cmdr Billie June “BJ” Farrell visited the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport on Aug. 1 to discuss the journey of her 19-year U.S. Navy career and her current position as the first female commanding officer of the historic frigate that is homeported in Boston National Historical Park in Charlestown, Massachusetts

The presentation was hosted by the Federal Women’s Program and Division Newport’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office as part of a celebration for Women’s Equality Day on Aug. 26 Farrellsaidshewashonoredandhumbled that her assignment as the first female commanderontheConstitutionmadenews acrosstheworld.

“In the sense of being the first woman, I really was notpreparedfor that Iapplied for the job because I felt really passionately about it and I really wanted it,” Farrell said “Ithoughtitwouldbeaquicktouchpointfor thenews butit’satestamenttotheshipand whatsherepresentstotheAmericanpeople. The story of change of command was esti- matedtoreach2.7billionpeopleworldwide It’sbeenreallyniceformetoreflectonthat anditsimpact.”

Farrell sees the assignment as an opportunity to educate others about the role of womenintheNavy “A lot of people don’t realize that women command ships so what I get to do, is represent the over 30 women that we have in command of ships today and the over 70,000 women we have serving on active duty service,” she said “That’s been the reallynicepart,toeducatepeopleaboutthe biggersenseoftheoptionsthattheNavyhas andoffers.It’sveryhumblingandeveryday that I get to walk on that ship, it truly is a privilegeandanhonor.”

Farrellleadsacrewof80activedutySailors,40%ofwhicharewomen.Theirmission is to preserve, promote and protect the legacy of the world’s oldest commissioned shipafloat.TheUSSConstitutiongets3,000 to 5,000 visitors a day, and about 600,000 visitors per year, and crew members share storiesofitsremarkablehistory.

“USS Constitution is the one ship that remains of the original six frigates, named for the document that governs our country and to the oath that we all take to support and defend, which is really humbling,” Farrellsaid

Fulfilling a lifelong dream

Originally from Paducah, Kentucky, FarrellhadastrongdesiretoattendtheU.S. NavalAcademyatayoungage

“I was 10 years old when I was channel surfing one day and I saw a Naval Academy graduation on TV,” she said. “I stopped and watched the whole ceremony When it was done I went up to my parents and said ‘I knowwhereIwanttogotoschool.’

Asaresidentofalandlockedstate,Farrell didn’t have much exposure to the Navy, so herparentssteppedintohelp findmentors and those who had served to make her dreamareality.Farrellevenpitchedherself to a local congressman for a nomination to get into the Naval Academy. The pitch paid off as she was appointed to the Class of 2004 and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. After graduation, Farrell wascommissionedasasurfacewarfareofficer and embarked on her first tour aboard the USS Vella Gulf (CG-72), as an electrical officer She then extended her tour aboard asthenavigator

After the two tours, Farrell reported to Commander Naval Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee and became an action officer in PERS-833 (Post Selection BoardMatters)andassumeddutiesasdelay sectionheadandassistantboardscreenerin theOfficerMisconductBranch.In2012,she wentbacktoseaaboardtheUSSSanJacinto (CG-56) as the weapons officer and later becametheship’scombatsystemsofficer

Her next tour was as deputy director for professional development at the U.S. Naval Academy.LatershereportedtoCommander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic as deputy N3 Shethenservedasexecutiveofficeronboard USS Vicksburg (CG-69) On Jan. 21, 2022, she as appointed as the 77th commander andfirstfemaletoassumecommandofUSS Constitution and she has 10 months left on thisassignment.

During a Q&A session, Farrell was asked about her greatest challenge during her service.

“I was the weapons officer and standing tactical action officer on USS San Jacinto when a submarine named Montpelier surfacedrightinfrontofus, shesaid “There was a collision, and I learned a lot about myself within a two-minute period. Everything happened so fast that there wasn’t reallyachancetoprepareforit.Iremember standingup,tryingtofigureoutwhereIwas supposed to be and then snapped out of it andtoldmyselftostaycalmandgeteveryone

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