Adm Linda Fagan becomes first female to lead US armed forces branch

Adm Linda L Fagan would be the first lady to guide a department of the US armed forces, serving because the twenty seventh commandant of the US coast guard.

Fagan will lead the coast guard after being sworn in to the place on Wednesday, reported the Related Press.

Joe Biden led the congratulations. “The trailblazing profession of Adm Fagan exhibits younger individuals coming into the providers, we imply what we are saying: there are not any doorways – no doorways – closed to ladies,” mentioned the president throughout a change of command ceremony at coast guard headquarters in Washington DC.

“Now we have to hold working to verify Adm Fagan stands out as the first however not the one … We have to see extra ladies on the highest ranges of command within the coast guard and throughout each service.”

Fagan has been second-in-command on the coast guard since June 2021, the primary lady ever to earn a four-star rank within the department, in accordance with a US Coast Guard biography.

Fagan was promoted after the retirement of Adm Karl Schultz, nominated to the highest place by Biden in April.

Final month, Fagan was unanimously confirmed to the place by the Senate. Vice Adm Steven Poulin will succeed Fagan as vice commandant after being authorised by the Senate.

A 1985 graduate of the coast guard academy, Fagan was a member of solely the academy’s sixth class to incorporate ladies.

Fagan later acquired two graduate levels, a Grasp of Science in Marine Affairs from the College of Washington, and a Grasp in Nationwide Useful resource Technique diploma from the Industrial Faculty of the Armed Forces.

Throughout her decades-long profession, Fagan has served in all seven continents and labored aboard the US Polar Star, a heavy ice breaker ship, as the one lady.

Fagan was additionally the primary recipient of the coast guard’s gold Historic Trident award in 2016, commemorating her because the longest serving Marine security officer.

Through the ceremony, whereas talking on her promotion, Fagan thanked her mother and father for supporting her profession within the armed forces.

“I used to be 16. I introduced my intent to attend the academy, filled with righteousness as solely a 16-year-old might be. And like all good mother and father, they mentioned, ‘Oh, she’ll outgrow it,’ ” mentioned Fagan because the ceremony’s visitors laughed.

“I didn't,” added Fagan.