March 29, 2021
USS Constitution Museum Honors Women of “Old Ironsides”
CHARLESTOWN, MA (March 29, 2021)—The USS Constitution Museum and USS Constitution will host Rad Women of USS Constitution, a free virtual panel discussion on Wednesday, March 31, 4:00 p.m. ET.
Current and former female crew members of “Old Ironsides” join the Museum for an insightful discussion about leadership and the role women play in shaping today’s United States Navy. From exploring the depths of the sea aboard a submarine to serving on the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, 21% of all active-duty sailors in the United States are women. In this online program, attendees will hear from four incredible women who serve on USS Constitution and learn about their career paths and the skills needed to be a leader in the U.S. Navy.
The program will be moderated by Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMDCM) Nancy Estrada, USN (Ret.), with questions and input from virtual attendees. CMDCM Estrada joined the U.S. Navy in 1990 and served on USS G.H.W. Bush and USS Nimitz, eventually being promoted to the Command Senior Chief program for duty on USS Constitution. Her tour culminated with her selection as the Command Master Chief for NAS Sigonella.
Speakers include:
- Command Senior Chief (CMDCS), Angela Collins, USS CMDCS Collins is the principal enlisted advisor to the Commanding Officer, the most senior enlisted person assigned to the command.
- Lieutenant (LT) Sasha Lowry, USS LT Lowry is an Operations Officer and the principal advisor to the Executive Officer. She is responsible for all daily operations of the ship and crew, which includes scheduling, facilities management, and watchbills.
- Aircrew Survival Equipmentman (PR2) Kimberly Watson, USS PR2 Watson is currently assigned to Deck Department as the Facilities Assistant Leading Petty Officer. She leads the execution of facilities upkeep and repair.
- Seaman (SN) Melanie “Santos” Santosrangel, USS SN Santosrangel has just completed bootcamp. She was selected to serve on “Old Ironsides” due to her outstanding performance.
Registration is required for this free Zoom program. It will also be streaming on Facebook Live. Additional information is also available on the Museum’s website.
This event has been made possible thanks to the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
This virtual program is part of an overall Museum initiative to serve the public at home. It includes a robust outreach and visitor engagement plan, offering videos, blog posts, collection highlights, and more. Every day the virtual Museum disseminates dynamic content through its social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and website usscm.org.
About the USS Constitution Museum
The USS Constitution Museum serves as the memory and educational voice of USS Constitution by collecting, preserving, and interpreting the stories of “Old Ironsides” and those associated with her. The Museum’s mission is to engage all ages in the story of Constitution to spark excitement about maritime heritage, naval service, and the American experience. The Museum is temporarily closed and currently providing a hands-on, minds-on environment digitally during this time of social distancing. For more information, visit usscm.org.
About USS Constitution
USS Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat. She played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855. During normal operations, the active-duty Sailors stationed aboard Constitution provide free tours and offer public visitation as they support the Ship’s mission of promoting the Navy’s history and maritime heritage and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence. USS Constitution was undefeated in battle and destroyed or captured 33 opponents.
