Adm. Linda L. Fagan has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as the 27th Commandant of the Coast Guard.
Upon confirmation by the Senate Commerce Committee, she will be the first woman to hold the position, and the first woman to lead any branch of the armed services.
“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 the current Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz.
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The Commandant of the Coast Guard is responsible for all Coast Guard operations worldwide, including more than 41,000 active duty members, nearly 8,000 reservists, and nearly 40,000 civilian employees or auxiliary volunteers.
If confirmed, Fagan will relieve Schultz in a change of command on June 1, 2022 in Washington, D.C., Fagan has served as vice commandant since summer of 2021.
Fagan has served as the commander of Coast Guard Pacific Area, which oversees all operations from the Rocky Mountains to East Africa. Fagan is also the first recipient of the Gold Ancient Trident, for the officer with the longest active-duty service in the marine safety field with her 36 years of service in the Coast Guard.
Fagan selected and Biden nominated Vice Adm. Steven D. Poulin to step into the vacancy created by her promotion, becoming 33rd Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard. Poulin is expected to relieve Fagan as vice commandant in a change of watch ceremony on May 24, 2022.
Poulin currently serves as the commander of Coast Guard Atlantic Area, responsible for all Coast Guard operations east of the Rockies to the Persian Gulf.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
