Türkiye’s first female admiral speaks on her historic achievement

Rear Admiral Gokcen Firat, the first female admiral in the history of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), expressed her pride in achieving this milestone in Türkiye’s long-standing naval tradition.

“I am extremely proud and honored to be the first Turkish female admiral in our glorious and deep-rooted maritime history during the Republic era,” Firat said in an interview with Anadolu.

Firat, who was promoted to the rank of rear admiral following the Supreme Military Council decisions in 2023, has served in various capacities within the Turkish Naval Forces since her graduation from the Naval Academy in 1998.

A trailblazing career in Turkish Navy

Following her graduation, Firat held various positions in the Turkish Naval Forces between 1998 and 2017, including roles as an underwater weapons officer and an anti-submarine warfare officer aboard the TCG Yavuz frigate.

From 2003 to 2005, she served on the training vessel TCG Egitim Bot-2, preparing cadets for naval operations. She later became Türkiye’s first female ship commander.

In addition to her operational roles, Firat has served at the General Staff, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Naval Forces Command. She also represented Türkiye in various NATO assignments, including an eight-month tenure as a maritime planning officer for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

From 2021 onward, she was stationed in Norway at NATO’s Joint Warfare Center for a year and then served as the head of the operations department at NATO’s Allied Maritime Command in the United Kingdom.

Following her promotion to rear admiral in 2023, she was appointed head of the Defense Planning and Project Management Department within the Turkish Naval Forces Command.

Role of Defense Planning and Project Management Department

Rear Admiral Firat emphasized the significance of her department’s work in shaping the future of the Turkish Navy.

“One of our key responsibilities is to design the force structure plan for our navy. This includes initiating and planning modernization projects, securing the necessary budget, and ensuring coordination with other departments within the headquarters,” she explained.

Her department also oversees Türkiye’s naval relations with allied forces, manages international and national strategy operations, and monitors maritime activities in surrounding seas and strategic areas of interest.

Breaking barriers for women in armed forces

When asked about the responsibilities of being Türkiye’s first female admiral, Firat acknowledged the importance of her promotion as a source of motivation for women in the military.

“This is a significant milestone not only for female officers currently serving in our navy but also for young women aspiring to attend the Naval Academy. If there was ever a perception that ‘women, no matter how successful, cannot advance or be promoted,’ I believe this achievement helps to break that stereotype,” she said.

However, she also emphasized the equal footing of men and women in the military.

“In the Turkish Armed Forces, we are all equal in our uniforms, regardless of gender. Our duties and responsibilities are the same. We all serve our country and our forces to the best of our ability. Gender does not matter—what matters is fulfilling our duties with excellence,” Firat added.

Türkiye’s maritime strategy and importance of naval power

Firat underscored Türkiye’s geographic and strategic position, highlighting the necessity of maintaining a strong naval presence.

“The world is undergoing a strategic shift, and Türkiye’s position in this changing global balance depends on its strength at sea. We must be powerful and effective in our maritime domains,” she stated.

Türkiye’s maritime assets include 462,000 square kilometers of maritime jurisdiction, equivalent to 60% of the country’s total land area. Firat noted that Türkiye’s location makes it imperative to be a maritime power, rather than a matter of choice.

“With its extensive coastlines in the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye holds the longest shoreline in these regions. These seas have historically been and continue to be arenas of global competition. Given our energy corridors and sea routes, being a maritime nation is not an option—it is a necessity. That is why we must maintain a strong and effective presence in our seas,” she explained.

Advice for young aspirants in Naval Forces

Firat shared her thoughts on the importance of youth engagement in maritime defense and encouraged young people to consider a career in the naval forces.

“If young people want to be part of this strength and defend our Blue Homeland, they must embrace military service and naval life not just as a profession but as a way of life,” she said.

She emphasized the importance of continuous learning, especially in an era of technological advancements.

“The world is moving toward autonomous systems and artificial intelligence. While these innovations may reduce the need for personnel, they will require a more highly skilled workforce. The real difference in future naval warfare will not be the similarity of technical systems but how well personnel can utilize and adapt to them,” she noted.

To prepare for a career in naval defense, Firat urged young people to develop strong research habits and stay informed about global strategic developments.

“Read a lot. Today’s youth might not prefer books, but the information once stored in encyclopedias is now available online. If they know how to use the internet wisely, it becomes a vast library of knowledge. They should learn about maritime history, global strategic developments, and the capabilities of their equipment,” she advised.

She also stressed the importance of mastering multiple languages.

“Learning foreign languages is crucial. Young people should aim to be fluent in at least two languages to effectively engage in global defense cooperation,” she concluded.