Military Women The Few. The Proud. The Anonymous. May 31, 2012 Share Read Later White House Photo / Pete SouzaPresident Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet the U.S. Navy's first contingent of female submariners in the Blue Room of the White House on Monday. The 24 women serve on ballistic and guided-missile submarines throughout the Navy. The White House and Pentagon noted the two other civilians, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, left, and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, as well as Admiral Mark Ferguson, vice chief of naval operations, far left. None of the Navy women was identified in the photo.