Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield was named as the new president of the U.S. Naval War College earlier today. She will serve as the college’s first female president in its 135 year history. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer named Chatfield in a statement that followed the college’s graduation ceremony in Rhode Island, speaking effusively of Chatfield and calling her a “historic choice.”

Chatfield, a helicopter pilot who commands Joint Region Marianas in Guam, was named just a few days after the departure of the former Naval War College president. Chatfield previously served as an associate professor of political science at U.S. Air Force Academy and as team commander of a provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan. Chatfield additionally served as deputy military representative to the NATO Military Committee.