U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan, the first woman - and the first mother - to lead any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, said she is excited and thankful to quite a few for her appointment.
Fagan took to social media on June 1, the same day as the U.S. Coast Guard change of command ceremony at guard's headquarters in Washington, D.C., that was attended by President Joe Biden, to speak directly to the Coast Guard.
"I am excited to serve as your 27th Commandant!" Fagan began in her three-part Twitter post.
Fagan thanked outgoing Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Karl Schultz for his 39 years "of distinguished and dedicated service."
"Admiral Schultz led our Service with distinction through historic challenges," Fagan continued in her Twitter post.
Fagan also thanked his wife, Dawn Schultz, "for her tireless support and advocacy for #USCG families as our ombudsman-at-large" before tweeting directly to the Coast Guard's workforce.
"Finally, I would like to thank our talented workforce for your dedication to duty and commitment to excellence," Fagan said in the last part of her Twitter post. "It is a privilege to have the trust and confidence of the workforce. Thank you and Semper Paratus!"
Biden, during his remarks at the change of command ceremony earlier the same day, referred to the historic nature of Fagan assuming the role of commandant, pending her confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
"Today we witness a tradition long-standing in the United States Coast Guard: the change of command as a new admiral assumes the leadership of our nation's 'oldest, continuous seagoing service'," Biden said during his remarks. "And it is both a connection to our earliest days as a nation and a new milestone in our history. We use those phrases lightly, but this is a big deal."
Fagan, whose 36-year military career began as a deck watch officer on the heavy icebreaker Polar Star off Seattle, earned a master of science in marine affairs from the University of Washington in 2002. She later became the Coast Guard's first female four-star admiral, Atlantic Area commander and 32nd vice commandant.
Biden, in his comments at the change of command ceremony, mentioned Fagan's time aboard the ice break and other service.
"You've crewed the Polar Star, a heavy icebreaker," Biden said, speaking directly to Fagan and then to the assembled. "You've captained the Port of New York. You've served on all seven continents. And you've commanded the Coast Guard operations in the Pacific. You've served as vice commandant of the Coast Guard. Throughout her decades of service, she has demonstrated an exceptional skill, integrity and commitment to our country. She upholds the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard."
Biden nominated Fagan in April, saying in a Facebook post that her "leadership and integrity are second to none."
"If confirmed, Adm. Fagan will be the first woman in history to serve as commandant and the first female service chief," Biden said in his Facebook post. "My administration is committed to seeing more qualified women at the highest levels of command and making sure women can succeed and thrive throughout their military careers."
Fagan was confirmed by a Senate voice vote on Friday, June 17.
