Col. Cindy Jebb has been nominated to become the first female dean at West Point. She will take over if the U.S. Senate approves Barack Obama's nomination. UPI/John Angelillo | License Photo

WEST POINT, N.Y., May 1 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama has nominated the first female dean at West Point.

Col. Cindy Jebb, who has been the academy's social studies department head, would succeed Brig. Gen. Tim Trainor in the post. The school has not had a female dean in its 216-year history.


"I am honored to have been nominated to serve as the dean of West Point," Jebb said in a news release. "Should Congress confirm my nomination, I will be privileged to lead a team of professionals who are dedicated to academic excellence in support of our mission to graduate leaders of character."

Trainor has been dean since 2010 and plans to retire in June.

"I am extremely happy for the Army, the academy, and most of all for our cadets to hear about Col. Jebb's nomination," Trainor said in the release. "She has a wealth of experience, and a breadth and depth of perspective on the needs of the Army and on higher education."

Jebb, who graduated from West Point in 1982, holds masters and doctoral degrees in political science from Duke University and a masters in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. Before her department-head duties, she served as deputy commander of the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade.