Women in the United States Coast Guard

Note that some minor wars women served in have been omitted from this history.

During World War I, in January 1918, Myrtle Hazard became the first woman to enlist in the Coast Guard. She was the only woman to serve in the Coast Guard during World War I.{{Cite news|last=Randolph|first=Ted|date=1945-08-09|title=Coast Guard 'For Men Only' Tradition Broken 27 Years Ago By Accident|pages=10|work=The Alexander City Outlook|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33426262/the-alexander-city-outlook/|access-date=2020-08-30|via=Newspapers.com}} As there was no official women's uniform at the time, she chose her own ensemble, a middy blouse and a blue pleated skirt.

Wartime newspapers erroneously reported that twin sisters Genevieve and Lucille Baker were the first women to serve in the Coast Guard; in fact, while they tried to enlist during the war, they were not accepted.{{Cite web |last=Vojvodich |first=Donna |date=2023-03-24 |title=The Long Blue Line: The Baker Twins—Re-searching the first female Coasties - or were they? |url=https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/3311017/the-long-blue-line-the-baker-twinsre-searching-the-first-female-coasties-or-wer/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230628043621/https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/3311017/the-long-blue-line-the-baker-twinsre-searching-the-first-female-coasties-or-wer/ |archive-date= 2023-06-28 |url-status=live |website=United States Coast Guard |language=en-US}}

On November 23, 1942, the Coast Guard Women's Reserve was created with the signing of Public Law 773 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.A Preliminary Survey of the Development of the Women's Reserve of the United States Coast Guard, p 3 Dorothy Stratton transferred from the Navy WAVES to serve as the Reserve's director. Dorothy Tuttle was the first woman to enlist in the Coast Guard Women's Reserve, and in all 11,868 enlisted women and 978 female officers served in it during World War II. This included Olivia Hooker, who thus became the first African-American woman to enter the Coast Guard in 1945.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-us-canada-46332474 |title=Olivia Hooker: 1921 Tulsa race riot survivor dies aged 103 – BBC News |publisher=Bbc.com |date= 25 November 2018|accessdate=2019-06-24}} In all five African-American women served in the Coast Guard Women's Reserve before it was inactivated in 1947, namely Hooker, D. Winifred Byrd, Julia Mosley, Yvonne Cumberbatch, and Aileen Cooke.Women & the U. S. Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office. Retrieved 2 February 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Notable-People/Women/Women-in-Coast-Guard-Historical-Chronology/|title=Women in Coast Guard: Historical Chronology|website=www.history.uscg.mil}} The Coast Guard Women's Reserve was inactivated on July 25, 1947, but was reestablished on a much smaller scale in 1949.

Approximately 200 women who had been in the Coast Guard Women's Reserve reenlisted and served during the Korean War.{{cite book |author=Paul M. Edwards |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xA34hGXAjlIC&pg=PA53 |title=The Korean War |date=1 January 2006 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-33248-7 |pages=53–}} They mostly served at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Vietnam War gave the Coast Guard a surplus of qualified male applicants, and the Coast Guard did not make a systematic effort to attract women during that time.A History of Women in the Coast Guard, by Dr. John A. Tilley

Frontiero v. Richardson, {{ussc|411|677|1973}}, was a landmark Supreme Court case which decided that benefits given by the military to the family of service members cannot be given out differently because of sex.{{cite web|url=https://www.oyez.org/cases/1970-1979/1972/1972_71_1694 |title=Frontiero v. Richardson | The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law |publisher=Oyez.org |date= |accessdate=2015-08-09 }}{{NoteTag|Technically, the case was decided under the Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause, not under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, since the latter applies not to the federal government but to the states. However, because Bolling v. Sharpe, through the doctrine of reverse incorporation, made the standards of the Equal Protection Clause applicable to the federal government, it was for practical purposes an addition not to due process, but rather to equal protection jurisprudence.}}

In 1973 women were integrated into the active-duty Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Reserve.{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Notable-People/Women/Women-in-Coast-Guard-Historical-Chronology/#:~:text=On+December+5,+1973+Public,into+the+Coast+Guard+Reserve|title=Women in Coast Guard: Historical Chronology|website=www.history.uscg.mil}} The Coast Guard Women's Reserve was ended and those in it were sent to the Coast Guard Reserve.{{cite web | url=https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Notable-People/Women/Women-in-Coast-Guard-Historical-Chronology/#:~:text=On%20December%205%2C%201973%20Public,into%20the%20Coast%20Guard%20Reserve | title=Women in Coast Guard: Historical Chronology }} On December 7, 1973 Wanda May Parr and Margaret A. Blackman became the first female enlistees sworn into the regular Coast Guard, and Alice T. Jefferson became the first female commissioned officer sworn into the regular Coast Guard.

In 1976 the Coast Guard Academy first admitted women; in 1985 Denise L. Matthews became the first woman to graduate at the top of her class at the Coast Guard Academy.{{cite book|author=Oretha D. Swartz|title=Service Etiquette|url=https://archive.org/details/serviceetiquette00swar |url-access=registration |year=1988 |publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=978-0-87021-620-6|pages=[https://archive.org/details/serviceetiquette00swar/page/528 528]–}}

In 1977 the first Coast Guard women were assigned to sea duty as crew members aboard Morgenthau and Gallatin.

In 1978 the Coast Guard opened all assignments to women.

Beverly Kelley became the first woman to command an American military vessel of any branch of the service, specifically a Coast Guard cutter, the 95-foot patrol boat {{ship|USCGC|Cape Newagen|WPB-95318|6}}, on April 12, 1979.[https://docplayer.net/55294569-Retirement-ceremony-beverly-g-kelley-captain-u-s-coast-guard.html "Retirement Ceremony, Beverly G. Kelley, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard"], U.S. Coast Guard, 22 April 2006, on docplayer.net {{Cite web|url=https://www.womensmemorial.org/whm11thumbnailsketches|title=Celebrating National Women's History Month 2011|website=www.womensmemorial.org|access-date=2019-02-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=26996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923184202/http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=26996|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2015|title=Defense.gov News Article: Coast Guard Honors Centenarian, Its First Woman Commissioned Officer|website=archive.defense.gov|access-date=2019-05-13}}

Vivien Crea became the first female in the U.S. Armed Forces to serve as a military aide to a President in 1984.{{cite web |last1=Thiesen |first1=William H. |title=Vivien Crea—aviator, leader and trailblazer for women in the military |url=https://www.history.uscg.mil/Research/THE-LONG-BLUE-LINE/Article/2939309/the-long-blue-line-vivien-creaaviator-leader-and-trailblazer-for-women-in-the-m/ |website=history.uscg.mil}}

Women in the Coast Guard served in Operation Desert Shield (1990–1991) and Operation Desert Storm (1991).{{cite web |url=https://www.uscg.mil/history/uscghist/WomenChronology.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203031935/https://www.uscg.mil/history/uscghist/WomenChronology.asp |archive-date=February 3, 2016 |title=Women & the U. S. Coast Guard |date=January 12, 2016|website=uscg.mil}}{{cite web |url=http://honoringmarinveterans.org/category/operation-desert-shield-1990-1991/ |title=Operation Desert Shield (1990–1991) – Honoring Our Marin Veterans|website=honoringmarinveterans.org}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dodlive.mil/2016/01/15/6-things-to-know-about-operation-desert-storm/ |title=6 Things to Know About Operation Desert Storm – DoDLive |website=www.dodlive.mil}}

In 1990, Lane McClelland became the first Women’s Policy Advisor in the Office of Personnel and Training at Coast Guard Headquarters.{{cite web |url=https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Notable-People/Women/Women-in-Coast-Guard-Historical-Chronology/ |title=Women in Coast Guard: Historical Chronology |at=Sections 1990, 1992, 1993 |date= February 22, 2021 |work= history.uscg.mil |publisher= United States Coast Guard |accessdate=October 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910002607/https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Notable-People/Women/Women-in-Coast-Guard-Historical-Chronology/ |archive-date= September 10, 2021 |url-status=live}} In 1992, she became the first active duty woman since the existence of the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve to be promoted to the rank of captain. In 1993, she became the first woman assigned as Chief Trial Judge of the Coast Guard.

Vivien Crea became the first woman to command an air station when she took over Air Station Detroit in 1992.

In 1993 Patricia A. Stolle became the first woman in the Coast Guard to advance to master chief petty officer.{{Cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/people/StollePAbio.pdf |title=MCPO Patricia Stolle, USCG |date=September 27, 2012 |website=United States Coast Guard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927035437/http://www.uscg.mil/history/people/StollePAbio.pdf |archive-date=2012-09-27}}

Before the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy was enacted in 1993, lesbians and bisexual women (and gay men and bisexual men) were banned from serving in the military.{{cite web|url=https://prezi.com/ytivn4zvwnrv/military-service-should-be-based-on-conduct-not-sexual-orie/|title=Military Service Should Be Based On Conduct, Not Sexual Orientation|publisher=prezi.com |author=Elizabeth Hoffman|date=2003-03-28 |accessdate=January 15, 2014}} In 1993 the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy was enacted, which mandated that the military could not ask servicemembers about their sexual orientation.Craig A. Rimmerman [https://books.google.com/books?id=Go9XsJ47GswC&pg=PA249 Gay rights, military wrongs: political perspectives on lesbians and gays in the military], Garland Pub., 1996 {{ISBN|0815325800}} p. 249Thompson, Mark. (2008-01-28) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080131092438/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1707545,00.html 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Turns 15]. TIME. Retrieved on 2010-11-30. However, until the policy was ended in 2011 service members were still expelled from the military if they engaged in sexual conduct with a member of the same sex, stated that they were lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and/or married or attempted to marry someone of the same sex.Richard A. Gittins [https://books.google.com/books?id=ENpnS9KApu8C&pg=PA215 The Military Commander & the Law], DIANE Publishing, 1996 {{ISBN|0788172603}} p. 215

The Coast Guard gained its first female flag officer in 2000 when Vivien Crea was promoted to rear admiral.

Women in the Coast Guard served in the Iraq War from 2003 until 2011.{{cite web|url= https://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/oif_uscgr_article.asp |title=U.S. Coast Guard History |publisher=Uscg.mil |date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323125233/https://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/oif_uscgr_article.asp |accessdate=2015-08-11|archive-date=2017-03-23 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-withdrawal-idUSTRE7BH03320111218|title=Last U.S. troops leave Iraq, ending war – Reuters|work=Reuters|date=18 December 2011 |accessdate=2014-10-29}}{{cite book|author=Lisa Yvette Tendrich Frank|title=An Encyclopedia of American Women at War: From the Home Front to the Battlefields [2 volumes]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nn7Dj6qUn6kC&pg=PA694|date=17 January 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-444-3|pages=694–}}

In 2006 Vivien Crea became the first female Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard and the Coast Guard’s first female vice admiral.{{Cite web|url=https://professionalmariner.com/first-female-u-s-coast-guard-vice-admiral-to-step-down/|title=First female U.S. Coast Guard vice admiral to step down – Professional Mariner|first=Professional Mariner|last=Staff}} In 2008 she became the first woman to be recognized as the USCG Ancient Albatross.

In 2011 Rear Admiral Sandra Stosz was chosen by the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Admiral Robert J. Papp to become the superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy.{{cite news

|title = Military academy gets female leader

|url = http://www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/connecticut-at-2-am/8326a98017f748228f72b99098ec183c

|date = 2010-12-15

|issue = Saint Tammany Edition

|page = A2

|newspaper = Times-Picayune

|place = New Orleans

|accessdate = 2010-12-15

|first = Daniela

|last = Altimari

}} She took the job in 2011 and held it until 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dhs.gov/blog/2011/06/03/coast-guard-admiral-becomes-first-woman-lead-us-service-academy|title=Coast Guard admiral becomes first woman to lead a U.S. service academy | Homeland Security|website=www.dhs.gov}}[http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/coast-guard/2015/06/01/new-superintendent-takes-helm-at-coast-guard-academy/28320673/ New superintendent takes helm at Coast Guard Academy], Associated Press / Navy Times, 1 June 2015 As such, she was the first woman to lead a United States military service academy.{{cite news

|url = http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/2487/422159/

|title = First woman to take helm of a U.S. military academy

|newspaper = United States Coast Guard Academy Media Port

|date = 2010-12-14

|accessdate = 2010-12-15

}}{{cite news

|url = http://www.qg.com/smartools/ebook/hosted.rails?issue=febd5da58922431e9f7ce8f7b860ef12d0cf1c5778104e158ab3e8f7b860ef12

|first = William A.

|last = Malec

|title = Female firsts

|date = May 2012

|accessdate = 2012-05-01

|page = 19

|magazine = Military Officer

|publisher = Military Officers Association of America

}}

In 2020, Rear Admiral Melissa Bert became the first woman to serve as the Judge Advocate General and Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard.{{cite news

|url = https://www.legalreader.com/radm-melissa-bert-fills-top-uscg-legal-spot/

|title = Congratulations to Rear Admiral Melissa Bert, the first woman to serve as Judge Advocate General and Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard.

|newspaper = Legal Reader

|date = 2020-05-11

|accessdate = 2020-06-04

}}{{cite news

|url = https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-names-its-first-female-judge-advocate-general-and-chief-counsel/2020/05/01/

|title = Coast Guard names its first female judge advocate general and chief counsel

|newspaper = Coast Guard News

|date = 2020-05-01

|accessdate = 2020-06-04

}}

In 2021, Linda L. Fagan became the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard’s first female four-star admiral. On May 11, 2022, the U.S. Senate confirmed Linda L. Fagan as the 27th (and first female) Commandant of the Coast Guard. When she assumed command on June 1, she became the first female service chief in the U.S. Armed Forces.{{cite news |last1=Kime |first1=Patricia |title=Coast Guard Admiral Becomes First Woman to Lead a US Military Branch |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/05/12/coast-guard-admiral-becomes-first-woman-lead-us-military-branch.html |work=military.com |date=12 May 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.workboat.com/coast-guard/fagan-to-be-first-woman-to-serve-as-coast-guard-commandant |title=Fagan to be first woman to serve as Coast Guard commandant |date=2022-04-12 |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=Workboat}} However, she was relieved of command on January 21, 2025 by Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman for "failure to address border security threats, insufficient leadership in recruitment and retention, mismanagement in acquiring key acquisitions such as icebreakers and helicopters, excessive focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and an "erosion of trust" over the mishandling and cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor."{{Cite web |last=Mion |first=Landon |date=2025-01-20 |title=Coast Guard Commandant terminated over border lapses, recruitment, DEI focus: official |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/coast-guard-commandant-terminated-over-border-lapses-recruitment-dei-focus-official |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Fox News |language=en-US |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121072206/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/coast-guard-commandant-terminated-over-border-lapses-recruitment-dei-focus-official |url-status=live }} Admiral Fagan was

the first Commandant of the Coast Guard to be relieved before the normal four year term of office expired.{{Cite web |last=Mongilio |first=Heather |date=2025-01-21 |title=UPDATED: Adm. Linda Fagan Removed as Coast Guard Commandant |url=https://news.usni.org/2025/01/21/adm-linda-fagan-removed-as-coast-guard-commandant |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=USNI News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Commandants |url=https://www.history.uscg.mil/browse-by-topic/notable-people/commandants/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=United States Coast Guard {{!}} History |archive-date=January 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250115113504/https://www.history.uscg.mil/browse-by-topic/notable-people/commandants/ |url-status=live }}

• United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve
• Women in the military

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• {{cite web |title = Women's History Chronology |url = http://www.uscg.mil/history/uscghist/WomenChronology.asp |website = Women & the U. S. Coast Guard |publisher = U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office |accessdate = 16 August 2015 |archive-date = 17 May 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170517212145/https://www.uscg.mil/history/uscghist/WomenChronology.asp |url-status = dead }}

{{refend}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Women in the United States Coast Guard}}

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{{Women in U.S. Government}}

Category:History of the United States Coast Guard

Category:United States Coast Guard

Category:Women in the United States military