Commending Bree Fram.

Commending Bree Fram.
WHEREAS, Bree Fram, an astronautical engineer who became one of the military's highest-ranking openly transgender service members, served the nation with honor and distinction as a member of the United States Air Force and the United States Space Force between 2003 and 2026; and
WHEREAS, Bree Fram grew up in Minnesota, but has deep roots in the Commonwealth as the descendant of a member of the House of Burgesses circa the 1650s; she holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Minnesota, a Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering from the Naval War College, and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Air Force Institute of Technology; and
WHEREAS, Bree Fram joined the United States Air Force in 2003 and deployed to Qatar and Iraq in support of operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom that same year; she was responsible for oversight of all Air Force security cooperation in Iraq and later held a command position in research and development; and
WHEREAS, Bree Fram came out as a transgender woman in 2016 while in a command position and continued serving in the United States Air Force during the transgender military ban from 2019 to 2021; and
WHEREAS, Bree Fram subsequently became an advocate for transgender service members, co-leading the U.S. Department of the Air Force LGBTQ+ Initiative Team and serving as president of the nonprofit advocacy organization SPARTA Pride; and
WHEREAS, after 18 years in the United States Air Force, Bree Fram recommissioned into the United States Space Force and was promoted to colonel in 2024, becoming one of the highest-ranking transgender officers in the United States Armed Forces and, at her retirement, the highest-ranking transgender member of the U.S. Department of Defense; and
WHEREAS, as a member of the United States Space Force, Bree Fram played a critical role in national defense by helping to identify and mitigate threats to satellite networks; she was most recently assigned to the Pentagon to lead space acquisition policy; and
WHEREAS, Bree Fram made lasting contributions to the United States Space Force by authoring its first-ever guidance on operational capability requirements, strengthening coordination between the military services and the intelligence community to ensure American forces remain prepared to meet emerging threats; and
WHEREAS, over the course of her military career, Bree Fram received numerous accolades and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air and Space Commendation Medal, and the Air and Space Achievement Medal; and
WHEREAS, Bree Fram was forced to retire from the military after the reinstatement of policies prohibiting transgender service members; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Bree Fram hereby be commended for her legacy of service to the nation as a member of the United States Air Force and the United States Space Force over the course of 23 years; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Bree Fram as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for her contributions to national defense.