Barbara E . McGann Retired Rear Admiral Barbara E . McGann was the executive director of the Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School in Marlborough , Massachusetts until her retirement at the end of the 2010 – 2011 academic year ( first graduating class at AMSA ) . She was one of the first women to achieve two - star rank in the United States Navy . Biography . Barbara E . McGann is a native of Newport , Rhode Island and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the College of Our Lady of the Elms , Chicopee , Massachusetts , and was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy through the Officer Candidate School , Newport , Rhode Island in March 1970 . Naval career . McGann ' s first duty station was Naval Air Station , Meridian , Mississippi , where she was the Public Affairs Officer . She reported to Navy Recruiting District , Los Angeles in 1972 , where she served as an Officer Recruiter for two years . In 1974 she was assigned to Headquarters , Navy Recruiting Command , Washington , D . C . , as Assistant Director in the Plans and Policy Division . Her next tour was as the assignment officer for junior Surface Warfare Officers at the Bureau of Naval Personnel from 1976 to 1978 . In April 1978 , McGann was transferred to the Pentagon to work for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Personnel Policy Division . Following that tour , she reported to Navy Recruiting District , Iselin , New Jersey , where she served as the Executive Officer from 1980 to 1982 . After graduation from the Naval War College , Newport , Rhode Island , in November 1983 , McGann served as a special assistant to the Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs from 1983 to 1985 . Her next tour of duty was as an Assignment Officer at Navy Personnel Command from 1985 to 1987 . After promotion to Commander , she assumed command of Naval Support Activity , Holy Loch , Scotland , in June 1987 . During this time she was designated as a Joint Specialty Officer . After two years in command , Rear Admiral McGann was assigned to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations where she served as Head of Middle East , Africa and South Asia Plans and Policy . In September 1990 , she became the Executive Assistant to the Commander , Navy Recruiting Area Eight , San Francisco , California . Following this tour in 1993 , McGann taught Strategic Studies as a Fellow at the Naval War College in Newport , Rhode Island . In June 1994 , McGann assumed the rank of Rear Admiral ( Lower Half ) and the duties of Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Total Force Programming and Manpower . She became Commander , Navy Recruiting Command in September 1996 . In July 1997 , she was promoted to Rear Admiral ( Upper Half ) . In September 2000 , she assumed duties as Provost , Naval War College . After her retirement from the naval service , McGann served as Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Rhode Island , assistant superintendent of the Boston Public Schools and CEO of the Marlborough ( Mass . ) Public Schools , and was the executive director of the Advanced Math and Science Academy in Marlborough , Mass . Education . In addition to a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the College of Our Lady of the Elms , Chicopee , Massachusetts , Rear Admiral McGann hold a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from Salve Regina University , Newport , Rhode Island , and a Master of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs from Georgetown University , Washington , D . C . . Awards and decorations . Her personal Decorations include the Legion of Merit ( 2 awards ) , the Defense Meritorious Service Medal , the Meritorious Service Medal ( 4 awards ) , the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal ( 2 awards ) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal . After her retirement from the Navy , Admiral McGann donated her uniforms and decorations to the Artillery Company of Newport .