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On Wednesday, history was made as Admiral Linda Fagan became not only the first woman to lead the Coast Guard — but the first woman to lead any branch of the U.S. armed forces.
The New York Timesreported that when Fagan graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1985 she was a part of just the sixth class that included women.
“We’re getting past the ‘firsts,'” Fagan said, according to theTimes. “I hope sometime soon we’re talking about the second female commandant, and the third female commandant, and that we’ll have a Black male commandant.”
According to the Coast Guard, approximately 40 percent of the incoming class at its academy in New London, Connecticut, will be women, theTimesreported. Though, just 15 percent of people are female across the entire force.
On May 12, the White House released a statement fromPresident Joe Bidenabout Fagan’s groundbreaking confirmation.
“Admiral Fagan’s leadership, experience, and integrity are second to none, and I know she will advance the Coast Guard’s mission to ensure our nation’s maritime safety and security,” the statement continued.
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On Wednesday, Biden, 79, participated in the Coast Guard’s change of command ceremony where Fagan officially replaced Admiral Karl L. Schultz as commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.
“It’s about time,” Biden said of a woman assuming the office, earning lengthy cheers from the crowd. “The Secretary of Defense, when he sent me [Fagan’s] name, I said, ‘What in the hell took you so long?'”
According to the U.S., Fagan has served on all seven continents and has held several leadership positions within the Coast Guard. Most recently, in June of 2021, she was appointed as the 32nd vice commandant.
source: people.com
