Earlier this week, Defense Secretary James Mattis announced a very important and historic nomination, that of Marine Corps Col. Lorna M. Mahlock, who was selected to serve as brigadier general. If confirmed, Mahlock will be the first black woman to ever hold that position.
As ABC notes, women make up a mere 8 percent of the Marine Corps, although that percentage is likely to rise. And then, just last year, the Marine Corps again made history by welcoming its first female infantry officer. That woman wished to remain anonymous, but she goes down in history as the first woman to finish training for a military occupational specialty, which was opened up to women in April 2016.
It has only been three years since all combat jobs became open to women.
Mahlock is currently the deputy director of operations, plans, policies and operations directorate at the Marine Corps’ headquarters in Washington, D.C.