Navy Hero Dies in McLean

The U.S. Navy's first female master chief, also known as a chief petty officer, died last week at the age of 90 of cardiac arrest while residing at Vinson Hall Retirement Community on Kirby Road, according to her obituary.

Master Chief Yeoman (Ret.) Anna Der-Vartanian began her military career in 1943 when she enlisted in the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service program, or WAVES. In 1946, she transitioned to the Navy and 13 years in  1959 later she became the first woman in the Navy to be promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer with a rank of E-9, according to her obituary.

During her Navy career, Der-Vartanian was stationed in Washington, San Francisco, Boston, Pearl Harbor, and Paris,according to a report by the U.S. Navy.

After her retirement from the Navy, she joined the C. I. A., where she became a specialist in Middle Eastern and European matters, retiring in 1991, only to return in a contractual capacity, working into her mid eighties until 2007, according to her obituary.

"We are saddened by the loss of Master Chief Anna Der-Vartanian," said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick D. West. "She was an inspirational pioneer in our Navy, and a role model for courage and commitment to every Sailor in uniform during the last 50 years. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family," the Navy reported.

"Her life was dedicated to selflessly serving the nation in any way she could, a tireless aspiration that went far beyond the Navy and left a profound impact wherever she was involved," he said. "Anna's contributions as a Sailor, as a citizen, and as a master chief petty officer will long burn as one of the brightest lights in our proud Navy heritage," West said, according to the Navy report.

"The Navy chief petty officer community will miss Anna's wit, her energy and the deep satisfaction she took in helping others," West continued. "She led people from the front by personal example, a virtue we strive to instill in every chief who wears anchors today. Anyone fortunate enough to spend time with Anna could not help but be impressed by her humility and strength of character. We were privileged to have her at several CPO events in recent years and she captured the undivided attention of everyone in the room when she was there. We won't forget her. "

She is survived by her sisters, Roxie Sahakian and Ardis Gregory and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Arlington National Cemetery, Women's Memorial Foundation, Department 560, Washington, DC 20042-0560.