THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: wednesday, August 16, 1995 TAG: 9508150276
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLENE CASON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
The new commanding officer of Northwest Naval Security Group Activity, a cryptologic and information warfare base located in southern Chesapeake, doesn't see any real challenge to her new job because of her gender.
After all, this is the third time Capt. Sharon A. Peyronel has been the ``first female commander'' of a naval base to which she was assigned.
Peyronel was in charge of the Galeta Island Naval Security Group in Panama from July 1994 until it was closed by the treaty implementation plan this June. She became commanding officer of the Chesapeake base on Friday.
She was also commanding officer of the Security Group in Terceira, Azores, from 1984 to 1986.
``I never ran into any real problems, because I was a woman, in my other commands,'' said Peyronel, 43.
The special-duty cryptology and telecommunications officer relieved Capt. William R. Brinkmann, who has been commander of Northwest for the past two years. Brinkmann is moving to the staff of the U.S. Atlantic Command at Norfolk Naval Station.
Peyronel was stationed at Northwest from 1977 to 1979, ``when it was an entirely different place. It's changed so much, not only with all the growth, but with the mission as well,'' she said.
Once thought of as a tiny, remote, secretive base between corn fields and the Great Dismal Swamp, Northwest is one of the few military installations to benefit from recent cutbacks and downsizing.
The base, already home to a Coast Guard communications center and a Marine security training school, has recently added Air Force and Army personnel to its population. Also, about a dozen Navy and 20 civilian communications technicians have moved to the base this summer from Charleston.
In the past two years, Northwest hit a construction bonanza, building a new Marine barracks and instruction complex, a family services center and child-development center.
There also has been extensive remodeling to several buildings, and construction on a medical facility starts this February, a year ahead of schedule.
The base's mission, said Brinkmann, calls for ``aligning information products into the joint system, for it is with that system that we fight wars and keep the peace.''
``Because of the rapid revolution in information technology used by our enemies, you must not only keep pace, you must lead in the technology race,'' he told sailors who attended the change of command ceremony.
Peyronel told the same sailors she was ``extremely impressed with your professionalism, enthusiasm, devotion to duty and your great reputation throughout the fleet.''
A graduate of California State University and the Naval Postgraduate School, the native of Sacramento has been in the Navy 21 years. Peyronel is the second-eldest of 11 children; only one sister has chosen to make a career of the military. Their father retired from the Air Force in 1969.
She hopes to travel to local historical areas and get in some bike riding while she's taking on the challenges of a new command.
``We're growing, and there's a new mission - having the Air Force and Army work with us in operations. Those are my challenges,'' Peyronel said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL/
Capt. Sharon A. Peyronel is the new commanding officer of Northwest
Naval Security Group Activity, a cryptologic and information warfare
base located in southern Chesapeake.
by CNB