Admiral confirmed as new Coast Guard commandant will be the first woman to lead a military service

• Adm. Linda Fagan has become the first woman ever to lead a military service.
• She was confirmed as the next Coast Guard commandant on Wednesday by a unanimous Senate vote.

The Senate confirmed Adm. Linda Fagan as the next Coast Guard commandant this week, making her the first woman to lead a military service.

Fagan's historic promotion, along with those of five other Coast Guard officers, was agreed upon unanimously by senators in a vote late Wednesday.

Fagan has been serving as the Coast Guard's vice commandant since June 2021, when she became the service's first four-star admiral.

She will take command of the Coast Guard from Adm. Karl Schultz, who has been the Coast Guard's commandant since 2018 and is set to retire from his position later in May.

When Fagan was first nominated for the vice commandant position, Schultz described her in a statement as "a top performer and trailblazer," writing that she "will be instrumental in moving the Service forward at a critical juncture in our history."

President Joe Biden congratulated Fagan on her rise to the position of commandant in a statement released Thursday.

"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," Biden said. "Today, Admiral Fagan's confirmation as Commandant of the US Coast Guard signals to women and girls across our nation they have a place in protecting their country at the highest level."

Fagan has served in the Coast Guard for 36 years. A 1985 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, she was named the first-ever Gold Ancient Trident, a title that refers to the longest serving active-duty Marine Safety Officer. Among other positions, she has lead the Coast Guard Defense Force West and served as deputy commandant for operations, policy, and capability.