On March 8, 2024, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks delivered remarks from the Pentagon to commemorate International Women’s Day. Hicks, a devoted civil servant and herself one of the most senior women in the national defense establishment, noted how far women in uniform have come in the more than 75 years since their permanent integration into the U.S. armed forces while recognizing that there was still much work to be done.
“That’s why we remain focused on expanding equal opportunity and reinforcing the support that allows women in the workforce to thrive -- such as competitive pay, child care, health care and workplace safety,” Hicks stated. “There is more work to do to ensure that women and girls are given the tools and access they need to realize their full potential.”