Holly Graf
Former US Navy officer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Holly Ann Graf is a retired United States Navy officer. Until January 2010 she was commanding officer of the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG-63), a major surface combatant vessel of the fleet. She was the first woman to command a cruiser in the history of the U.S. Navy. Earlier, she had been the first woman in the U.S. Navy to command a destroyer when she served as skipper of the guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81). Her personal decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star, among others.[1] Graf was relieved of command for abusive behavior unbecoming of an officer and was featured in Time magazine that characterized her as a modern-day female "Captain Bligh".[2] The U.S. Navy forced Graf into early retirement in 2012, but allowed her to do so at her current rank of captain and under "honorable circumstances".[3]
Holly Ann Graf | |
---|---|
Born | Simsbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1985ā2010 |
Rank | Captain |
Commands held | USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81) USS Cowpens (CG-63) |
Battles/wars | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
Awards | Legion of Merit Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (with one gold star). |