2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 36
Commending Rebecca Michelle Sherrill.
Agreed to by the Senate, February 12, 2026
WHEREAS, Rebecca Michelle Sherrill, a native of Alexandria and a former helicopter pilot in the United States Navy, became the first female veteran to serve as a governor of any state when she took office as the 57th governor of New Jersey in 2026; and
WHEREAS, Michelle “Mikie” Sherrill was born in Alexandria and attended South Lakes High School in Reston from 1986 to 1990; and
WHEREAS, Mikie Sherrill was inspired by her grandfather's experiences as a veteran of World War II to pursue opportunities to serve the nation in uniform, and she earned a bachelor's degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1994 as part of the first graduating class of women eligible for combat roles on ships and aircraft; and
WHEREAS, Mikie Sherrill subsequently completed flight training and fulfilled a lifelong dream to become a pilot when she was designated as a naval aviator flying the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King; and
WHEREAS, Mikie Sherrill conducted missions in Europe and the Middle East over the course of nine years, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander; she served as a flag aide to the deputy commander of the United States Atlantic Fleet and was a Russian policy advisor to the commander-in-chief of United States Naval Forces Europe and Africa, among other assignments; and
WHEREAS, after her honorable military service, Mikie Sherrill earned a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center, then worked in the litigation department of the firm Kirkland & Ellis before joining the United States Attorney's Office as an outreach and reentry coordinator and later serving as a federal prosecutor with the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; and