Rachel Levine sworn in as first openly transgender 4-star officer

• The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps responds to health emergencies on behalf of the federal government, including administering COVID-19 vaccines and responding to natural disasters, such as hurricanes.
• Levine is also the organization's first female four-star admiral and the sixth four-star admiral in the history of the service, per the Washington Post.

What they're saying: In an interview, Levine said that her new position as an admiral was "not just symbolic," per the Post.

• "I’m doing this because of my dedication to service … [and] with the utmost respect and honor for the uniform that I will be wearing," Levine said.
• "Admiral Levine’s historic appointment as the first openly transgender four-star officer is a giant step forward toward equality as a nation," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

Go deeper: Rachel Levine becomes first transgender official confirmed by Senate