New Commandant of Midshipmen is......

A woman.

Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Rodney P. Rempt has selected Naval Flight Officer and academy graduate, Capt. Margaret D. Klein to serve as the 82nd Commandant of Midshipmen.

Klein, 49, a native of Weymouth, Mass. will relieve current Commandant of Midshipmen Capt. Bruce E. Grooms in December.
...
Klein, a 1981 graduate of the Naval Academy is currently serving as Chief of Staff to Commander, Carrier Strike Group Eight, embarked in the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Strike Group. She was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1983 and served three operational tours in Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Three (the "Ironmen"”) flying in the EC-130Q and the E-6A “TACAMO” aircraft. Klein had command of the Ironmen in her final tour, during which the squadron won the Battle E and Maintenance Excellence Award.

Klein’s extensive operational experience includes service on the USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group Staff during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her major command was Wing Commander of Joint Service Task Force 124 and Strategic Communications Wing One in Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

CAPT Klein, I wish you luck. I hope that as a woman you will help bring the female MIDN in line, as this year has proven that for too long there has not been adequate female leadership at Annapolis. We need a firm, honest, direct hand. The good MIDN and officers who just happen to be female are being smeared by those others who have been allowed to get away with lying, taking drugs, and taking advantage of the fact that all they have to do is yell, "They are just doing this because I am a girl....." and call the Senator from Maryland's office and off they go. Off the hook. You have been given an unique opportunity to do this right, I hope you do and wish you all the best.

As a side note; with all the problems we have seen over the last couple of years at Annapolis with double standards for athletes, drugs, alcohol, rape, allegations of rape, lies under oath, and other allegations, it would be interesting to see if there were any career consequences to the previous Commandant of Midshipmen. Oh, wait; here we go.

Capt. Grooms has been selected for promotion to Rear Admiral and assignment as deputy director, Submarine Warfare Division, N87B, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

Hmmmm.