Biden nominates first woman to lead US Coast Guard

US President Joe Biden has nominated Adm. Linda L. Fagan to serve as the 27th Commandant of the US Coast Guard. Upon confirmation, Adm. Fagan will be the first woman to serve as Commandant of the Coast Guard.

Pending confirmation, Adm. Fagan is expected to relieve the current Commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Karl L. Schultz, during a change of command ceremony planned for 1 June 2022 in Washington, D.C. Adm. Schultz will retire following the change of command this summer.

Fagan currently serves as the 32nd Vice Commandant, having assumed the duties on 18 June 2021. The Vice Commandant is the Vice Service Chief and Chief Operating Officer, responsible for executing the Commandant’s Strategic Intent, managing internal organizational governance, and serving as the Component Acquisition Executive.

Previously, she has served as Commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area overseeing operations from the Rocky Mountains to the waters off the East Coast of Africa.

The Pacific Area Commander concurrently serves as Commander, Defense Force West providing Coast Guard mission support to the Department of Defense and Combatant Commanders.

Moreover. Fagan is the US Coast Guard’s first-ever Gold Ancient Trident, as the officer with the longest service record in the Marine Safety field.

“Admiral Fagan is an exceptional senior Coast Guard officer and nominee, possessing the keen intellect, the depth of operational experience, and the well-honed leadership and managerial acumen to serve with distinction as our Service’s 27th Commandant,” said Adm. Schultz.

The US President has also nominated Vice Adm. Steven D. Poulin as the Coast Guard’s 33rd Vice Commandant.

Poulin currently serves as the Commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area and is responsible for all US Coast Guard Missions from the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf.