Senate confirms Shawn Skelly and Gina Ortiz Jones to top military posts in historic firsts
Skelly is the first trans person to serve as assistant defense secretary, while Jones is the first out lesbian to serve as undersecretary of a military branch.
The U.S. Senate has confirmed two LGBTQ women to top military positions in historic firsts.
The Senate confirmed both women with unanimous consent on Thursday. Shawn Skelly will serve as assistant secretary of defense for readiness, becoming the first transgender person to hold the post and the highest-ranking out trans defense official in U.S. history. She is the second out transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate, following the confirmation of Rachel Levine earlier this year to be assistant secretary to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.