BUFFALO (NY) - Katharine Pratt Horton, Buffalo Chapter, NSDAR and the YWCA of WNY will welcome Rear Admiral Robin L. Graf with a reception at the historic Birge-Horton DAR House, 477 Delaware Ave on September 11, 2012. Rear Admiral Graf, USN is commanding the naval ships that will be in Buffalo for the weeklong bicentennial celebration of the WAR of 1812.

Rear Admiral Graf will discuss her experiences in the Navy as her path to leadership in what is traditionally a male career path. She is a shining example of the accomplishments and contributions women can make to the United States Armed forces.

Gloria Pratt Cannon, Regent of the Katharine Pratt Horton-Buffalo Chapter, NSDAR, said, "Our chapter is proud to be hosting the Rear Admiral in our historic Chapter house. She is a living example of the DAR tradition of women participating in leadership roles as they support the United States of America and all it stands for".

"This event is the first time that YWCA of WNY and DAR are partnering on an event and we could not be more pleased. We are all excited to hear from Rear Admiral Graf about her experiences in the navy as a woman and learn something about how she rose to be a leader in the armed services," said Deborah Lynn Williams, CEO of YWCA of WNY.

YWCA of WNY, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Organization that has been in existence for 142 years. The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. In addition to education and job training for teens, the YWCA offers housing for seniors and transitional housing for homeless women and children and victims of domestic violence. Day care, UPK, and before and after school programming are offered for infants thru school age. Visit www.ywca-wny.org.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation's children. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 165,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.dar.org.

Rear Adm. Graf is the Deputy Commander, Navy Recruiting Command.

Graf a native of Simsbury, Conn., attended Cornell University, graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She was commissioned in 1981 upon graduation from Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. Graf earned a Master's degree in Exercise Physiology from Illinois Benedictine University in 1988. She was awarded a diploma from the College of Command and Staff from the Naval War College in 2001 and completed the Advanced Joint Professional Military Education curriculum at the Joint Forces Staff College in 2006.

Graf's initial assignment was as communications watch officer at Naval Communications Area Master Station, Naples, Italy and officer in charge of the Satellite Communications Facility at Lago DiPatria, Italy. Following this overseas tour, she was assigned to Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. where she served as a company officer and taught navigation and personnel administration. Graf transitioned to the Navy Reserve in 1986.

Graf's Navy Reserve assignments have included tours with Naval Weapons Support Center, Crane, Ind.; Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity Long Beach, Calif.; Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity Newport, R.I., and U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Va. She has held commanding officer positions with Navy Reserve Naval Station Norfolk, Va., Detachment 101; Navy Reserve SIMA Newport Detachment 201; Navy Reserve Ashore Mobile Contingency Communications 4 Driver 401, Readiness Unit 802 Bronx, N.Y.; Navy Reserve AO-186 Platte; Navy Reserve Personnel Mobilization Team 906; Navy Reserve Navy Activities United Kingdom Detachment 408; Navy Reserve Commander U.S. Fleet Forces Command Detachment 106, Norfolk, Va.; and Navy Reserve Supreme Allied Command Transformation Detachment 205, Buffalo, N.Y.

Graf was mobilized to active duty and deployed to Ramadi, Iraq with Task Force Ramadi from February to November 2008. She was subsequently assigned to the J9 Directorate at U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Va.

Graf is designated a Fleet Marine Force officer. Her personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), and several other unit and personal decorations.