NATO appoints highest-ranking woman in its history

NATO has appointed the highest-ranking woman in its history, naming US Under Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller as its next deputy secretary-general.The alliance's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said today that Gottemoeller "will bring to NATO a wealth of experience in international security policy, and in areas such as arms control and relations with Russia." The deputy secretary-

general is the alliance's second highest-ranking civilian official. Stoltenberg said Gottemoeller will be the first woman to hold the job, and called it "a milestone in NATO."

Gottemoeller now advises Secretary of State John Kerry on arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament, NATO said. She succeeds Alexander Vershbow, a former US ambassador to Moscow who has been NATO's No.2 since February 2012.

NATO said Gottemoeller will take up her new position on October 1.