Adm. Linda L. Fagan has been named Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. She becomes the first female four-star Admiral in the history of the Coast Guard.
President Biden nominated Adm. Fagan for the position in April. She was previously the commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area, a position she held since June 2018 and was in charge of overseeing all Coast Guard operations in the Pacific, which encompassed more than 74 million square miles of ocean stretching from the United States’ western states to Asia, and from the Arctic to Antarctica. As the officer with the longest service record in the Marine Safety Field, Fagan is the first-ever Gold Ancient Trident awarded by the Coast Guard.
Ray retired from the Coast Guard
Adm. Fagan relieved Adm. Charles W. Ray, who had served as the Coast Guard’s vice commandant since May of 2018, at a change-of-watch ceremony at US Coast Guard Headquarters on Friday. Ray retired from the Coast Guard after 40 years of service and was honored by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas with the Department of Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal.
“I am extremely proud of the dedication and resiliency I have seen throughout our service and throughout my career,” said Ray. “It has been an honour to serve with the men and women of the Coast Guard and it is my privilege to pass the reigns of vice commandant to Adm. Fagan, a true trailblazer and inspiration to so many.”
U.S Coast Guard
Adm. Fagan’s professional history
Adm. Fagan’s background includes commanding Sector New York, as well as operational deployments such as sea duty on the USCGC Polar Star and more than 15 years as a Marine Inspector. She has also collaborated on flag state and port state issues with the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization, including the drafting of the International Ship and Port Security Code (ISPS) and the Consolidated Maritime Labor Convention.
