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For the third time this year, a woman has created “a novelty” in naval service history.
Patricia O’Sullivan of Ballydehob in West Cork has just become the first woman in the Navy to rise to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CPO).
He joined the service in 1998, at the age of 17, and completed his general service recruiting training and professional training before embarking as a mechanic.
In 2013, Patricia was selected to take an electrician training technician course and, after her apprenticeship, she was appointed as an electrical architect.
She is not the only member of the O’Sullivan family serving in the naval service: her younger brother, Donal, is a noncommissioned officer.
Patricia has been sent abroad twice in migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea aboard LÉ Samuel Beckett.
She and the crew saved thousands of lives, but she will never forget the heartbreaking scenes in which several migrants drowned after their inflatable boat capsized near their ship.
“It was very distressing to witness it, but you have to see the positive aspects because, in general, we saved many,” he said.
“You have to wonder what would have happened if we weren’t there. We were all very happy to contribute to the effort. I don’t know a person who regrets (serving the mission).”
Patricia said she is delighted and honored to become the first female CPO in the service.
“I think what got me there was hard work and a good attitude,” he said.
Earlier this year, 2nd Lt. Tahlia Britton became the first female member of the Naval Diving Unit, successfully completing a course that is second only to physical and mental stamina by those taken by those entering the Ranger Wing of army elite.
Just a few weeks ago, another woman broke the “glass ceiling” on the ranks of the navy hierarchy when Roberta O’Brien was promoted to the rank of commander, the first woman to hold that position.
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