White House to Get First Female Chief Usher

The White House is getting the first female Chief Usher in the history of the position.

First Lady Michelle Obama announced Tuesday that Angella Reid, current general manager of The Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City, will assume the position of Director of the President's Executive Residence beginning in November. Reid is the ninth person to hold the Chief Usher title.

Reid will replace Rear Admiral Stephen W. Rochon (Ret.), who had served as Chief Usher since 2007 and departed earlier this year to take a position at the Department of Homeland Security. Rochon was the first African-American to serve as Chief Usher.

In addition to her work at the Pentagon City hotel, Reid has worked in management positions at The Ritz-Carlton properties in Miami and Washington D.C. Before joining The Ritz-Carlton, Reid was general manager of the Hartford (Conn.) Marriott Rocky Hill Hotel and Director of Operations at the Renaissance New York Hotel.

According to the White house statement, Reid will be responsible for "overseeing all aspects of the operations and activities within the Executive Residence and on the Executive Residence grounds. Specifically, Reid will oversee the annual inventory of White House property and work with preservation organizations to help maintain and preserve the White House.

The position of Chief Usher has been in continuous existence since 1901. The longest-serving holder of the position was Irwin "Ike" Hood Hoover, who held the position from 1909 until his death in 1933.