The U.S. Naval Academy has announced Sydney Barber as its first Black female brigade commander in the institution’s 175-year history.
Barber of Lake Forest, Illinois, currently serves as the first regiment executive officer and will become the 16th woman to hold the leadership role since 1976, when women were first allowed to attend the academy.
She will assume the leadership position for the 2021 spring semester.
The brigade commander holds the highest leadership position, that of a midshipman captain, within the brigade and is the only “six-striper,” a reference to the collar insignia worn on the midshipman’s uniform.
The brigade commander is responsible for much of the day-to-day activities and professional training for the Naval Academy’s more than 4,400 midshipmen.
Barber was selected from a group of top-ranked first-class midshipmen by a board made up of senior leadership staff, which interviewed and reviewed the candidates’ records. Her father also attended the Naval Academy and graduated in 1991.
Reacting to the appointment, Barber said,
“Earning the title of brigade commander speaks volumes, but the title itself is not nearly as significant as the opportunity it brings to lead a team in doing something I believe will be truly special. I am humbled to play a small role in this momentous season of American history.”
ALSO READ: Record-Breaking As Young Lady Becomes First Black Female Tactical Jet Pilot in US Navy
Sydney Barber is said to be a mechanical engineering major who plans to commission into the Marine Corps following graduation. She is a part of the Navy Women’s Varsity Track and Field Team and currently holds a record for the outdoor 4x400m relay, according to the release.