Admiral Linda Fagan Becomes First Female To Lead A Branch Of U.S. Military

U.S. Military Admiral Linda Fagan has become the first female to be appointed to lead a branch of the U.S. Military.

Fagan was sworn in by President Joe Biden on Wed., Aug.3, to lead the U.S. Coast Guard after Head of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas appointed her on April 7.

She had been promoted to the rank of Admiral on June 18, 2021, and she replaced Admiral Karl L. Schultz.

Born in Columbus, Ohio on July 1, 1963, Fagan made up her mind to pursue a career in the U.S. Coast Guard by the time she turned 16.

At the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Fagan earned a bachelor’s of science degree in marine science, and she attended the University of Washington where she received a master’s of marine affairs in 2000.

In 2008, she earned a master’s of science degree in national security strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University.

She has served as a crew member of the Polar Star icebreaker based in Seattle, and in so doing, she was the only female member of the crew.

Fagan became the 32nd Vice-Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard in 2021, and she has now become the 27th Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard. She also became the first female four-star Admiral.

President Joe Biden presided over her appointment ceremony in Washington D.C., and he praised Fagan as being the first woman to be appointed to lead a branch of the U.S. military and the first to serve as commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Concerning having a female lead a branch of the U.S. Military, Biden concluded, “…it’s about time.”

Fagan is also the U.S. Coast Guard’s first Gold Ancient Trident, having served the longest time as an officer in the marine safety field.