Reuters TOM BRENNER
US President Joe Biden
US President Joe Biden announced the nomination of two women to assume positions at the head of the military leadership, while Kamala Harris will appear as his deputy for the first time, at the meeting of gender equality at the United Nations.
Biden nominated US Air Force General Jacqueline Van Ofost, Chief of Logistics Transportation, the only female general with a 4-star rank in the US Army.
General Laura Richardson (3 stars) has also been nominated to lead the Southern Command, which covers Central and Latin America, and is expected to earn its fourth star.
And if the appointment of Ofost and Richardson were confirmed by the Senate, they would become the second and third woman to hold such top military positions in the United States after Lori Robinson, who became the first woman to lead a military command before retiring in 2018.
“These two women have created jobs that demonstrate unparalleled skill,” Biden said during their presentation in a speech at the White House.
He added, “Today is International Women’s Day, and we need to see and appreciate the achievements of these two pioneering women.”
Kamala Harris is due to make her UN debut as Vice President of the United States next week, at an annual UN meeting on promoting gender equality and empowering women.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield said, “Harris will speak at the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women on March 16th.”
Source: “Le Figaro” + “Reuters”
