Supporting All Women by Supporting Women in America's Military

This photo was taken in the White House Situation Room as President Obama and his team of national security advisors monitored the Navy SEAL Team 6 mission that brought Obama Bin Laden, the world's most iniquitous terrorist and Al Qaida mastermind, to his final demise. It is important that we stop to recognize the importance of this historic moment that closes a chapter of fear and anxiety in our nation's history. But it is also important to take notice that this photo points to the progress we have made in this country with respect to women's equality. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is arguably one of the most powerful diplomats in the world, and she has a seat at table that historically has been occupied by men only. Secretary Clinton's prominent position in the foreground of this photo signals to the world that women do have a voice in international politics. Clinton is not the only woman in this photograph; Director of Counter Terrorism Audrey Tomason can also be seen in the photograph.

The fact that not one but two women are featured in this instantly infamous photograph is proof of how far we have come with respect to getting women a seat at the table, literally. And yet still, despite the tremendous progress made by female trailblazers such as Secretary Clinton, women are still denied opportunities at the most basic level in our military. For instance, in just a few short months, the Air Force will award a contract to build Light Air Support (LAS) and Light Attack and Armed Reconnaissance (LAAR) aircraft.  Two companies have emerged as frontrunners for this contract. One is the American Hawker Beechcraft, which has proposed an aircraft designed to accommodate roughly 95 percent of the military's potential male and female pilot population. The competitor, Brazilian- based Embraer, has submitted an aircraft for consideration that relies on outdated standards and will fail to accommodate a large percentage of female pilots. It is perplexing as to why, after women have risen to the most powerful and influential positions in the country, our military officials would even consider building an aircraft that would exclude female pilots from piloting, and thus limiting their opportunities for career advancements.

How can we expect the next Hillary Clinton and the next Audrey Tomason to ascend to positions of power, when they are not even being given the same opportunities as their male counterparts in the armed services? We need to support opportunities for women at the most basic levels of leadership. Only then will Secretary Clinton and Ms. Tomason's successors be afforded the ability to follow the path that has been paved for them by the female leaders that came before them.