Biden to nominate first woman to lead a military service
Adm. Linda Fagan is also the first woman promoted to four-star rank in the Coast Guard.
President Joe Biden plans to nominate Adm. Linda Fagan to be the next commandant of the Coast Guard. If confirmed, she would be the first woman to lead a military service branch.
Since June 2021, Fagan has served as the vice commandant, the service's No. 2 position. At the time, she became the first woman to become a four-star admiral in the Coast Guard.
USNI News first reported that Fagan will be nominated for the top job. Members of the Senate Commerce Committee later confirmed the news.
“Admiral Fagan’s nomination will inspire generations of American women to strive to serve at the highest level in the Armed Forces,” Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, said in a tweet.
If confirmed, Fagan would replace Adm. Karl Schultz, who is expected to retire in May. Senate Commerce Committee Republicans took note of the time crunch on Tuesday.
"It is important for the Commerce Committee to proceed efficiently so the Coast Guard is not left without a leader," the Republicans tweeted, noting that Fagan is an "outstanding leader."
When Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced her nomination as vice commandant last year, he called her a “superb leader” at a time when the Coast Guard’s mission “has never been more important.”
“We are grateful to Vice Admiral Fagan for continuing her service to country, for the trail she has blazed, and for inspiring us all,” Mayorkas said.
A graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Fagan earned master’s degrees from the University of Washington in marine affairs and from the National Defense University in national security strategy. She served as the Coast Guard’s Pacific Area commander prior to her appointment as vice commandant.
Fagan also served aboard the icebreaker USCGC Polar Star and as deputy director of operations at U.S. Northern Command.
She is the Coast Guard’s first-ever Gold Ancient Trident, an award created in 2016 and given to the service member with the longest record in the Marine Safety field.