Last week Navy Lt. Blake Dremann became the first openly transgender service member promoted since the ban on transgender service was lifted.

Dremann gathered, along with his parents, friends, some admirals and other officers and representatives of some advocacy groups in the President's Room at the Navy Memorial.

Dremann's ceremony was emceed by transgender officer Major Bryan Fram of the Air Force. Dremann, who is stationed at the Pentagon, asked the highest ranking transgender person in the Department of Defense to officiate at the promotion. Deputy Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy Amanda Simpson performed those duties.

I suppose I should start by addressing the significance of today's ceremony. To my knowledge this is the first U.S. military promotion ceremony for an openly transgender officer.

--Simpson

In 2011 Simpson became one of the first female-bodied sailors to serve on a submarine.

While it was a big deal to be the first, we did the job just like any sailor aboard a submarine. We proved that neither gender nor sex-assigned-at-birth had anything to do with how well we performed.

--Dremann

During his 10-year career, Dremann has deployed 11 times and has been stationed inside the Pentagon since 2015. Although he's been promoted in rank from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander, his job will stay the same.

After his 9-5, Lt. Cmdr. Dremann has assumed the position of President of the transgender military organization SPART*A, which represents over 500 active duty or veteran members of the military.

Fram is also a member of SPART*A. He has served nearly 14 years and is also stationed at the Pentagon.

It's a signal that it's not career-ending to come out of the shadows. Blake's promotion and having openly transgender officers serve in senior leadership positions helps show that the military can, and will, judge a person by their actions, accomplishments, and potential and not their gender identity.

--Fram

Dremann's parents, Rev. Dr. Dave Dremann and his wife, Diane, flew in from St. Louis for the event.

We're extremely proud. He's been the apple of my eye for years and years and we finally got to make one (of his promotions).

--Diane Dremann

Blake's previous ceremonies had been on submarines, ships or hard to reach towns.

His mother was particularly nostalgic as her own mother, Dremann's grandmother, volunteered to served as a truck driver in the Army during World War II. "She's got to be looking down from heaven and busting her buttons right now," his mother emoted. "The service was everything to her, too." But after World War II ended his grandmother had to be discharged, as she was taking the position of a man. Dremann on the other hand, regardless of his sex-assigned-at birth or gender, can continue his career without restriction.

I wouldn't be surprised if he'll be the first transgender Admiral. He's just so driven now, you can see it in him… the sky's the limit.

--Diane Dremann

SPART*A's previous president, Army veteran Sue Fulton was also in attendance.

In the language of the traditional orders, this promotion shows a 'special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, and abilities' of this officer, and his potential as a leader in the Navy.

--Fulton

But today isn't about firsts. This ceremony is about following the grand traditions of the United States Navy and the high standards of trust and service and thus, specifically, Blake Dremann. And that is why we are all here.

--Simpson

Blake has already achieved much in the Navy, helping to integrate subs and earning the Navy-wide Batchelder Award. But today was special for more than that. While continuing to perform his job with excellence, Blake has shown tremendous courage in coming out as transgender. And his leaders have responded as they should, recognizing his contributions without regard to his gender identity.

--Fulton

Demann summed up the day by reciting his favorite quote:

The qualities that are most important in all military jobs, things like integrity, moral courage, and determination have nothing to do with gender.

--Retired Army Brigadier General Rhonda Cornum