{"id":51988,"date":"2021-04-19T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/04\/19\/biden-to-announce-first-woman-four-star-admiral-for-the-coast-guard\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:50:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:50:58","slug":"biden-to-announce-first-woman-four-star-admiral-for-the-coast-guard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2021\/04\/19\/biden-to-announce-first-woman-four-star-admiral-for-the-coast-guard\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden selects first woman four-star admiral for the Coast Guard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Updated 4\/19\/21 at 2:00 pm EST, reflecting the nomination becoming official several hours after it was reported by Defense News. <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 President Joe Biden has nominated Coast Guard Vice Adm. Linda Fagan to the role of vice commandant, making her the first woman to achieve a fourth-star in the service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fagan, the head of the Coast Guard\u2019s Pacific area of operations, would replace Adm. Charles Ray, who has been the Coast Guard\u2019s No. 2 officer since May 2018. Defense News first reported the nomination early Monday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to her biography, Fagan has served on all seven continents. She previously held command roles along the east coast, and also served as deputy director of operations for Headquarters at U.S. Northern Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am pleased that President Biden has nominated Vice Admiral Linda Fagan to be the Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard,\u201d Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. \u201cShe is a superb leader who, as the 32nd Vice Commandant, will guide the Coast Guard at a time when its mission of securing our maritime borders, ports, and waterways has never been more important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf confirmed, Vice Admiral Fagan would serve as the first woman to be promoted to a 4-star rank in the Coast Guard.  We are grateful to Vice Admiral Fagan for continuing her service to country, for the trail she has blazed, and for inspiring us all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the presidential election, the Biden team pledged to increase<\/a> the number of women serving in top national security roles. In addition to naming Kathleen Hicks<\/a> the first female deputy secretary of defense and nominating Christine Wormuth<\/a> as the first female Army secretary, the administration has also nominated<\/a> Air Force Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, to lead U.S. Transportation Command and Army Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson to lead U.S. Southern Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\t