b'COAST GUARDCOAST GUARD REPORTAdm. Fagan Installed as First WomanU.S. Coast Guard CommandantA dm.KarlL.SchultzwasrelievedAnd she will also be the first woman to serveThe 27th Commandant directed her remarks as Commandant of the U.S. Coastas Commandant of the Coast Guard, the firstto the Coast Guard workforce. Im honored GuardbyAdm.LindaL.Faganwoman to lead any branch of the U.S. armedand humbled to serve as your Commandant. during a military change-of-command cere- forces. And its about time. Ive always been inspired by the Coast Guard mony presided over by President Joseph R.professionalsservinginallourmissions Biden, at U.S. Coast Guard headquarters onWithhertrailblazingcareer,Bidensaid,around the world, she said. Thank you for June 1. With the change in command, Adm.Adm.Faganshowsyoungpeopleenteringyour dedication, your hard work, and your Faganmadehistorynotonlyasthefirstservice that we mean it when we say, There areservice. It is my greatest privilege to work on womantoleadtheCoastGuard,butalsono doors closed to women. your behalf.as the first woman service chief of any U.S. military service. Keeping with the tradition of wearing shoulderImmediatelyfollowingthechange-of-com-boards passed down from a senior officer, Adm.mand, Adm. Schultz retired from the Coast Today we witness a tradition longstandingFagan wore the shoulder boards of the Adm.Guard after 39 years of service to the Nation. in the USCG, change of command, as a newOwen Siler. As the services 15th Comman- He was awarded the Homeland Security Dis-admiralassumesleadershipofournationsdant, he opened the Coast Guard Academystinguished Service Medal.oldest continuous seagoing service. Its both adoors to women in 1975. Despite having met connection to the earliest days of our nation,Siloronlyonce,Adm.FaganacknowledgedThe men and women of the Coast Guard plusanewmilestoneinourhistory.Wevethe outsized impact of that decision. deserveallthecreditforwhatwehaveac-PHOTO EVAN VUCCI/AP PHOTOusedthosephraseslightly,butthisisabigcomplished,saidSchultz.Imhumbled deal, Biden said. Throughout her decades ofIf it were not for [Adm.] Owen Silers cour- to have led the worlds best Coast Guard as service, shes demonstrated exceptional skill,age, I would not be here today, said Adm.commandant during the last four years, which integrityandcommitmenttoourcountry.Fagan. Im wearing his shoulder boards thatpresented some unique challenges. Our collec-Theresnoonemorequalifiedtoleadthehe wore as commandant, just to acknowledgetive resolve, bias for action, unrivaled devotion proud men and women of the Coast Guard.the long blue line. to duty, true grit and dogged determination FOGHORN 46'