Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) praised the historic appointment of retired Lt. Gen. Karen Gibson as the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms, following her swearing-in as the chief law enforcement in the chamber on Monday.
In a Senate floor speech, Schumer cited Gibson’s work with retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré for a comprehensive review on Capitol security since the day of the deadly Capitol insurrection. The Senate majority leader then called Gibson’s appointment a “great and historic day,” with an all-women leadership now heading up the Senate Office of the Sergeant at Arms.
Gibson, who is a retired Army lieutenant general and previously served as director of intelligence for the U.S. Central Command, will work alongside Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Kelly Fado and chief of staff Jennifer Hemingway at the SAA office.
“This will be the first time in history of the Senate that the leadership of the Sergeant-at-Arms will be comprised entirely of women,” Schumer said. “Another crack in the glass ceiling.”
Gibson’s predecessor, Michael Stenger, resigned after the deadly Capitol insurrection earlier this year that then-President Trump incited.
According to the Senate’s website, the sergeant-at-arms is responsible for maintaining security in the Capitol and all Senate buildings, in addition to the protection of lawmakers.
The Senate sergeant-at-arms is also a part of the Capitol Police board that oversees the Capitol Police, whose actions have been met with scrutiny amid its failure to stop the mob from breaching the Capitol on Jan. 6.
SERGEANT AT ARMS: Sen. Chuck Schumer praises Lt. Gen. Karen Gibson: "This will be the first time in history of the Senate that the leadership of the Sergeant at Arms will be comprised entirely of women." pic.twitter.com/vEjVRncS9r
— Forbes (@Forbes) March 22, 2021
