Transgender sailor ousted from the Navy due to the military’s don’t ask, don’t tell policy goes on to help repeal the act and christen the USS Harvey Milk.
Paula M. Neira
Paula M. Neira, JD, MSN, RN, CEN, FAAN, is a Navy veteran, a nurse, and a lawyer. After serving in Desert Storm, including in mine warfare combat operations, she began careers in both nursing and the law. She helped lead the efforts to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and change regulations to allow for transgender military service in 2016. In recognition of her leadership in advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Armed Forces and in healthcare, she was the first U.S. Service Academy graduate to be inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. As the sponsor of the USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), she christened the ship in 2021.
