WASHINGTON (JTA) – Rachel Levine made history in March when she assumed the role of assistant secretary for health, becoming the first known transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate.
Now Levine, who is Jewish, is the most senior transgender person in the uniformed services, after she was sworn in on Tuesday as the admiral of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, one of two nonmilitary US uniformed services. The other is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.
The swearing-in also makes Levine the first known transgender four-star officer in US history.