Quick Facts
Cancer
Biography
Linda Lee Fagan (born July 1, 1963) is a United States Coast Guard admiral who serves as the 27th Commandant of the Coast Guard. Previously, in 2021 she became the 32nd Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard’s first female four-star admiral. Before that, she was the commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area with prior terms as Coast Guard Deputy for Operations, Policy, and Capabilities, commander, First Coast Guard District, and commander, Coast Guard Sector New York. Fagan is also the Coast Guard's first Gold Ancient Trident, the officer with the longest service record in the Marine Safety Field. In April 2021, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced her nomination as the next Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard, succeeding Charles W. Ray. She was confirmed on June 17, 2021, and assumed office on June 18.
In April 2022, it was announced that Fagan would be nominated to succeed Karl L. Schultz as Commandant of the Coast Guard, making her the first woman in American history to lead a military service. Her nomination was sent to the United States Senate on April 7, 2022, receiving confirmation by unanimous consent on May 11. She assumed office on June 1.Her actions have recently come under scrutiny for allegedly covering up an investigation into rape and sexual assault in the Coast Guard Academy: she having knowledge of the secret investigation - and the fact that it had not been briefed to the Congress - while the Vice Commandant, during the Commandant turnover process, and for the more than one year since taking over as Commandant.The investigation was only released by the Coast Guard after CNN broke the story.
Early life and education
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Fagan graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1985 with a B.S. degree in marine science. She later earned a Master of Marine Affairs degree from the University of Washington in 2000 and an M.S. degree in national security strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University in 2008.
Awards and decorations
 | ||
 | | |
 |  | |
 | | |
 | ||
 | ||
| Badge | Marine Safety Insignia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st row | Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal | ||
| 2nd row | Defense Superior Service Medal | Legion of Merit with two gold award stars | Meritorious Service Medal |
| 3rd row | Coast Guard Commendation Medal with "O" device and award star | Coast Guard Achievement Medal with "O" device and award star | Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon with "O" device |
| 4th row | Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation with "hurricane symbol" | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | DHS Outstanding Unit Award |
| 5th row | Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award | Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with "O" device and award star | Meritorious Team Commendation with four award stars |
| 6th row | Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation | National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star | Antarctica Service Medal |
| 7th row | Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Humanitarian Service Medal |
| 8th row | Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon | Coast Guard Overseas Service Ribbon | U.S. Coast Guard Pistol Marksmanship ribbon |
| Badge | Coast Guard Command Ashore insignia | ||
| Badge | Joint Chiefs of Staff ID Badge | ||
| Badge | Commandant Staff Badge | ||
Personal life and family
Fagan is the daughter of Jon Harley Keene and Loann Carol (Morris) Keene. Her daughter Aileen is also a United States Coast Guard Academy graduate.