They were chosen because they are the best for the jobs.
It cannot be more clear than that.
Two individuals, in line to be promoted to full generals in the U.S. military, are judged on their accomplishments, ideas, skills, and experience. The conclusion: promote them.
They just happened to be female. And while promotions in the military — as in the civilian world — should rest on merit, the reality is not always the case. Often, the military has been ahead of the curve in sexual and racial fairness and it appears poised to be a beacon once again.
Those chosen for promotion “because they were the best officers for the jobs,” as former Defense Secretary Mark Esper said, are Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost of the Air Force and Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson of the Army.
In the next few weeks, Esper’s successor, Lloyd Austin, and Gen. Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are expected to send the delayed recommendations to the White House, where officials are expected to endorse the nominations and formally submit them to the Senate for approval.
When they receive their fourth stars, Van Ovost will lead the U.S. Transportation Command, which oversees the military’s global transportation network, while Richardson will steer U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Latin America.
The glass ceiling in the military has already been cracked this year. For the first time, a female — Kathleen Hicks — is the Deputy Defense Secretary. She was nominated by President Biden as the best person for the job and confirmed in a voice vote by the Senate.
