Commander Billie Farrell made history on Friday by becoming the first female captain of the USS Constitution, the world’s oldest functional warship.

Farrell assumed her new responsibilities after a change-of-guard ceremony at noon in Boston, where the 224-year-old warship is anchored.

While women have been part of the USS Constitution’s crews since 1986, none had ever been its captain.

“To be the commander of her, and have ties to the heritage of our Navy and our country, is just an unbelievable experience. And to be the first woman to do it is also special because there are so many women serving our country right now, and so I get a chance to represent them,” Farrell told CNN after taking charge of the historic warship.

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A native of Kentucky, Farrell made up her mind to join the US Navy in the sixth grade, when she watched the graduation ceremony of the US Naval Academy on television.

She went on to fulfil her dream of joining the US Navy and graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in 2004 with a undergraduate degree in Political Science.

Farrell was in active military service between 2004 and 2007, when she served aboard the USS Vella Gulf for her first two tours.

Following the completion of her first two tours, Farrell was assigned to the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee, between 2008 and 2011. During this period, she went on to complete her post-graduate degree in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas.

Farrell returned to sea soon after her post-graduation, serving as the weapons officer and then the combat systems officer aboard the USS San Jacinto from March 2012.

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In 2015, she was appointed as the Deputy Director for professional development at the US Naval Academy, and held the post till 2017. In 2020, she returned to sea again to serve aboard the USS Vicksburg.

Over the course of her years of service, Farrell has received numerous honours, including the two Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and three Meritorious Unit Commendation Medals.