MORRISTOWN, NJ — A Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s campaign inaccurately identified her as a “lieutenant commander” in more than 20 fundraising emails during her time in Congress, despite official military records showing she retired from the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant.
This was first reported by the Washington Free Beacon.
The designation was included in a disclaimer routinely appended to the bottom of Sherrill’s campaign emails.
“Mikie Sherrill was a Lieutenant Commander [O-4] in the U.S. Navy,” the disclaimer read, followed by a standard legal note about military endorsements.
However, her Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty lists her final rank as lieutenant (O-3)
Sherrill, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, joined the Navy in 1994 and served as a helicopter pilot until her departure in 2003.
While she was nominated for promotion to lieutenant commander before leaving active duty, public records confirm she was never confirmed in that role.
In October 2021, President Joe Biden referred to her as “lieutenant commander” during remarks in New Jersey, amplifying the inaccuracy on a national stage.
The Beacon said Sherrill admitted to the false promotion, but she blamed a vendor, yet she has on multiple occasions she has corrected the misnomer that she was a Lt. Commander, which has been pushed by the media, Wikipedia, and her followers.
Sherrill herself has never identified herself as a Lt. Commander, in an indepth records search using Google, and the Wayback Machine as reference points.
Key points
- Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s campaign falsely listed her as a “lieutenant commander” in over 20 fundraising emails.
- Military records confirm she retired as a lieutenant and was never confirmed for promotion.
- President Biden repeated the incorrect rank in 2021 public remarks.
Sherrill used correct title in personal statements
While the campaign materials overstated her rank, Sherrill herself has consistently referred to her proper title in official and personal communications. In a 2017 op-ed published in NJ.com, she wrote: “I left the Navy as a lieutenant after spending almost 10 years as a helicopter pilot.”
There is no indication that the Department of Defense or the Navy endorsed the inaccurate use of rank, nor has any formal complaint been publicly disclosed.
Misrepresenting a military rank is not a criminal offense but is considered a serious breach of military decorum.
Fact Check: Sherrill never claimed the rank, the claim was made by her campaign, but the buck does stop there, she should have looked at anything that spoke on her behalf before it went out. She is not claiming false valor, however, let’s hope she starts reading what her campaign puts out in her name in the future.