{{Short description|Japanese chief}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = Rear Admiral | name = Ryoko Azuma | caption = Ryoko Azuma | image = Ryoko_Azuma.jpg | native_name = 東良子 | native_name_lang = Japanese | birth_date = December 10, 1973 | allegiance = Japan | branch = Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | rank = Rear Admiral | commands = 1st Escort Division }} Rear Admiral '''Ryoko Azuma''' (東 良子 ''Azuma Ryōko'') (born December 10, 1973) is the first woman to become the chief of a warship unit in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. She was also a member of the first female class at the National Defense Academy of Japan.
== Career == After graduating from high school, Azuma entered the National Defense Academy of Japan in 1992, where she was one of the first women to enter the academy.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.clearing.mod.go.jp/hakusho_data/2012/2012/html/nc3340.html|title=防衛白書|year=2012|chapter=＜VOICE＞ 女性自衛官の声－各地で活躍する防大女子１期生－|access-date=2017-01-10}}</ref> In March 1996, she entered the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. She became the vice-captain of {{ship|JDS|Kashima}}, and in March 2013 she became the captain of {{ship|JS|Setoyuki}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Trailblazing-female-commander-leads-Japan-s-top-naval-squadron|title=Trailblazing female commander leads Japan's top naval squadron|last=Kato|first=Masaya|date=July 20, 2019|website=Nikkei Asian Review|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-09-26}}</ref> Alongside Miho Otani, she was the first woman to become the captain of a training ship.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.minpo.jp/globalnews/detail/2013032201002374|title=海自「艦長の夢かなった」|date=2013-03-22|access-date=2017-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327020531/http://www.minpo.jp/globalnews/detail/2013032201002374|archive-date=March 27, 2013|publisher=福島民報}}</ref> In 2014 Azuma became the first female captain to conduct a deep sea navigation training.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/formal/operation/enyo.html|title=海上自衛隊:活動内容:平成26年度遠洋練習航海|website=www.mod.go.jp|access-date=2019-09-26}}</ref> On January 1, 2015, she was official promoted to the rank of rear admiral. On March 23, 2016, she transferred to the Maritime Staff Office.
On March 6, 2018, she became the commander of {{Interlanguage link|Escort Flotilla 1|lt=|ja|第1護衛隊群|WD=}}, and was the first woman to command a warship squadron for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sankei.com/politics/news/180306/plt1803060016-n1.html|title=女性初の護衛隊司令着任 東良子１等海佐「職責に集中」|last=INC|first=SANKEI DIGITAL|date=2018-03-06|website=産経ニュース|language=ja|access-date=2019-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-defence-femalecommander-idUSKCN1GI0VC|title=Japan's navy appoints first woman to command warship squadron|date=2018-03-06|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-09-26|language=en}}</ref> The squadron is made up of four warships and the helicopter carrier {{ship|JS|Izumo}}.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/meet-ryoko-azuma-japan-navys-first-female-chief-of-warship-unit/articleshow/63188070.cms?from=mdr|title=Meet Ryoko Azuma, Japan navy's first female chief of warship unit|date=2018-03-06|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-09-26}}</ref> On August 5, 2018, she took command of a mission to deal with the pirates in the Gulf of Aden in Somalia.<ref name=":0" />
== See also ==
* Misa Matsushima – First woman in the Japanese Self-Defense Force to become a fighter pilot
== References == {{Reflist}}{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Azuma, Ryoko}} Category:Living people Category:1973 births Category:National Defense Academy of Japan alumni Category:People from Ishikawa Prefecture Category:Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel