Rachel Levine Sworn In as First Openly Transgender Four-Star Admiral: Speech Transcript

Andrea Palm: (00:03) Good morning. Welcome to the ceremonial swearing in of our new four-star Admiral of the United States Public Health Service Commission Corps, Dr. Rachel Levine. I'm Andrea Palm. I'm the Deputy Secretary here at the US Department of Health and Human Services. The path towards equality is a long one, but today we are taking a historic step forward with the appointment of Admiral Levine as the first openly transgender four-star officer across the uniform services. I am proud to serve at HHS as history is being made and to support a more diverse future. I will administer the Public Health Service Corps oath and Vice Admiral Vivek Murphy, US Surgeon General, will serve as a witness. Vice Admiral Murphy, would you like to say a few words about the US Public Health Service Commission Corps? VADM Vivek H. Murphy: (00:52) We are extremely proud to have Dr. Levine join the 6,000 officers of the US Public Health Service Commission Corps who serve on the front lines of our nation's fighting against disease and poor health conditions. They are dedicated to providing healthcare to underserved and vulnerable populations across our country. Andrea Palm: (01:12) Dr. Levine, are you ready? Dr. Rachel Levine: (01:13) I am. Andrea Palm: (01:14) Place your hand on the constitution and raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, state your name. Dr. Rachel Levine: (01:21) I Rachel L. Levine. Andrea Palm: (01:23) Having been appointed an officer in the Commission Corp of the US Public Health Service. Dr. Rachel Levine: (01:30) Having been appointed an officer in the Commission Corp of the US Public Health Service. Andrea Palm: (01:35) In the grade of Admiral. Dr. Rachel Levine: (01:36) In the grade of Admiral. Andrea Palm: (01:38) Do solemnly reaffirm. Dr. Rachel Levine: (01:40) Do solemnly reaffirm. Andrea Palm: (01:42) That I will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Dr. Rachel Levine: (01:48) That I will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Andrea Palm: (01:55) That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. Dr. Rachel Levine: (01:59) That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. Andrea Palm: (02:02) That I take this obligation freely. Dr. Rachel Levine: (02:04) That I take this obligation freely. Andrea Palm: (02:07) Without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. Dr. Rachel Levine: (02:10) Without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. Andrea Palm: (02:14) And that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter. Dr. Rachel Levine: (02:21) That I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter. Andrea Palm: (02:27) So help me God. Dr. Rachel Levine: (02:28) So help me God. Andrea Palm: (02:30) Welcome, Admiral Levine. Would you like to say a few words? Dr. Rachel Levine: (02:33) Yes, please. Dr. Rachel Levine: (02:38) Thank you very much for entrusting me with this role. I would also like to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support as we take this momentous step together. The opportunity to serve as the head of the United States Public Health Service Commission Corps as a four-star officer is an extraordinary honor and a profound responsibility. I am truly honored to join the ranks of men and women across this great nation who have committed to defend the United States against small and large threats, known and unknown. And I promise to uphold that trust to the fullest extent of my abilities. I am proud to follow in my father's footsteps and two of my uncle's footsteps in serving this great nation. My father, Melvin Levine, often spoke about his service in the air force during World War II. A young man from a small town in Massachusetts stepping up to answer the call to serve in Africa and in Italy as a Jewish American during World War II. My mother's brother, Bernard Cohen, served in the army during World War II and was stationed in France after D-Day. Dr. Rachel Levine: (03:53) My father's brother, Robert Levine, served as a member of the National Guard assigned Massachusetts and still resides there. Just as they stepped up to defend our rights to freedom and liberty, I now follow in their storied tradition of service as I step up to defend the health of our nation, especially now as we face the biggest public health crisis our country and the world has faced in modern times. I stand before you in this uniform ready to be a beacon in these dark days of COVID-19 working to serve you and this great nation. I am honored to serve as the first female four-star officer of the US Public Health Service Commission Corps and the first openly transgender four-star officer to serve across any of the eight uniform services. This is momentous occasion, and I am honored to take this role for the impact that I can make and for the historic nature of what it symbolizes. Dr. Rachel Levine: (04:58) I stand on the shoulders of those LGBTQ+ individuals who came before me, both those known and unknown. May this appointment today be the first of many more to come as we create a diverse and more inclusive future. Diversity makes us stronger. Each person has a different perspective and different strengths that they bring to make the whole community stronger. The time is now for our country to continue to move the bar forward for diversity. And I am proud to wear this uniform and answer that call. Earlier I took an oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States. Now I pledge my commitment to you. I pledge to be a steward of the nation's health. I commit to you that I will be rigorous in my approach. I will follow the signs to build a healthier future where we work to create an environment in which no one is left behind. The health of our nation is paramount. Everyone should be treated with love, respect, and compassion. Thank you. Andrea Palm: (06:06) Thank you Admiral Levine and Vice Admiral Murphy for your service and dedication to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the nation. Thank you everyone for joining us.