In 1969, she was appointed by President Richard Nixon Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commissions, making her at the time, the highest ranking woman in the federal government, the first woman to serve in a key governmental positions in the maritime field, and the first woman to be appointed by a President to head a regulatory agency.  In 1975, she left her office and became a business consultant.  In 1984, she returned to politics and was elected to congress where she served 5 terms and served on several committees, including Merchant Marine and Fisheries and Human Rights.

Today, Helen is President and CEO of Helen Bentley & Associates Inc., which is an international trade, business, and government consultant.  While Helen struggled being the one of the few women in journalism and politics at the time, she says that she was greatly influenced by her mother and was very determined.  According to Maryland’s Top 100 Women Website (http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/bentley.html) Helen said, “I am very proud to have broken the glass ceiling for women in the federal government by demanding to be the first woman chair of the Federal Maritime Commission, rather than just accepting a commission seat.  I was able to make major contributions to the shipping industry, and the appointment resulted in y being the fourth-highest ranking woman in U.S. government history.”

For more information on Helen Bentley, you can visit the following websites:

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