Alumnae in the Military: 1940s-1950s

Commander Mary Louise McDowell ‘41 earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania after graduating from Wilson. Inspired by Margaret Disert, she joined the WAVES and was the first woman law officer (the equivalent of a civilian judge) to serve at general court martial. She prosecuted and defended cases of desertion, failure to obey orders, larceny and rape. She was Navy counsel in the Abraham Chasanaw case which was made into the movie “Three Brave Men”.

Captain Joan R. Hankey ‘59 joined the US Navy three days after graduating from Wilson. She earned a Master’s in Computer Systems Management from the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey CA. She directed one of the Navy’s largest computer operations centers. Joan was the first woman executive officer of a Navy command not involved with administration of women, and the first woman officer named as assistant for automation for the organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. When she was promoted to Captain, Joan was one of only 17 women Navy captains outside the Nurse Corps. She was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for outstanding service.