Thelma Bendler Stern (b. December 7, 1923; married name: Neubauer) is the first woman assigned to perform duties aboard a United States Navy ship as part of her official responsibilities. Stern was a civilian employee at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard during World War II, working in the engineering department. Her job as a ship's draftsman included taking measurements of ship features as required by her engineer colleagues to allow them to designate the placement of upgrades such as new anti-aircraft guns. Stern’s first assignment aboard ship occurred June 29, 1943, aboard the USNS Escalante, a tanker (hull number AO70). This was followed by assignments aboard a further 229 ships before her career at the Navy yard ended in January 1946.