First female West Point dean settles into role

After decades of slow progress, 2016 has been a year of rapid change for women in the military. They have been breaking new ground after being allowed in combat, overcoming gender barriers and taking on more key roles, previously reserved for their male counterparts.

An important milestone occurred in June, when the U.S. Senate confirmed President Obama's nomination of Col. Cindy Jebb as the United States Military Academy's new academic dean.

Jebb, a Rockland County native from New City, is the first female in the school's 200-plus-year history to serve as dean and succeeds Brig. Gen. Tim Trainor, who retired in June after six years in the position. The appointment came on the heels of West Point marking its 40th year of admitting women as cadets and the naming of the school's first female commandant of cadets, Brig. Gen. Diana Holland, in January.

Around the time of her appointment, Jebb declined interviews because she wanted to get a handle on the job. Now, Jebb speaks confidently about her academic vision for the four-year college, one that consistently ranks among the top in the country, and her excitement to work with teaching staff and cadets. She is also thrilled not only with the "tremendous advancements" of gender integration at West Point, but also the introduction of more diversity at the school and advancements over the years to academic, military and physical programs.

"I feel so humbled and so honored, especially when I see all the great people who held this position before me and to be able to build on that legacy," she said.

"I look at it like an adventure," said Jebb, who has spent time conducting security research in Africa, doing study projects in Iraq, Djibouti and Afghanistan and serving in a senior level role at the National Security Agency.

Her professional background also includes a lot of "firsts." Besides being the first female dean of West Point, Jebb was the first woman named to head the school's Social Sciences Department back in 2013 and the first woman from Rockland County to gain admission to West Point back in 1978.

Growing up, Jebb, then Cindy Glazier, a student at Clarkstown South High School, read an article in "Women's Sports" magazine about West Point's new women's basketball team — The Sugar Smacks — and her interest in the military academy was piqued.

The teen researched further, learning about its history, the values of "duty, honor and country" and the idea of committing oneself to serve "was what hooked me," she said.

Jebb didn't come from a military family, so her parents were "a little apprehensive" when she started considering West Point as an option after high school but they were "very supportive" of it. She added, "They brought me up to believe you can accomplish anything."

While at Clarkstown South, Jebb played tennis, basketball, volleyball and softball. She was among the first teens to benefit from the school district's newly expanded girls athletic programs, a move the school board made in the mid-1970s to offer girls more opportunities to be involved with sports, teamwork and leadership, recalled Eleanor Berk, a retired Clarkstown South teacher.

Berk, who described herself as "an avid supporter" of the school's athletic programs for girls, said it seems like Jebb has been building "on the teamwork and leadership qualities she experienced in high school" to become a high-ranking officer in the Army who has gained the respect of students, colleagues and superiors.

"Because of the support of her family, teachers, coaches, friends and the nature of her own character, Col. Jebb is a person of extraordinary leadership qualities, integrity and scholarship," Berk said.

Jebb said, "I made great friends there. There were great teachers, great coaches and I received a great education that propelled me when I came here."

Following graduation from Clarkstown South in 1978, Jebb went on to become a member of West Point's third class to admit women. While at the four-year school, Jebb continued playing sports and met her future husband, Joel.

After graduating in 1982 from West Point, the couple was married and served together in the 1st Armored Division. Then, the pair earned master's and doctoral degrees at Duke University and went on to have three children: Ben, Alex and Olivia.

Jebb and her husband returned as U.S. Army captains to take teaching positions at West Point in the Social Science Department and English Department, respectively, and the family lived in nearby Cornwall. A few years later, Cindy Jebb became head of the department.

A few months ago, after Jebb assumed the role of dean, she and her husband moved into a historic house on the 16,000-acre campus near "The Plain" and Eisenhower Hall. The 1856 home, where many former deans lived, "has character," Jebb said, smiling.

"I work with phenomenal staff and phenomenal cadets. It's very inspiring and energizing," she said.