Rear Admiral Megan Dean now commands the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska. As the records show she’s the very first woman to be able to do this.
Dean was officially sworn in during an official change-of-command ceremony held in Juneau this Friday. Following it, Dean said she’s spent most of her time in Florida and she’s looking forward to various challenges in Alaska.
“I believe that the majority of what is happening here is a matter of obvious you’ve heard about it the weather and then the tyranny that is distance and time” Dean said.
Dean stated that she believes it’s crucial for the other women working in the Coast Guard to see someone similar to her in leadership positions. She also rejects the notion that being female makes her less or more capable in this capacity.
span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I’m a Coast Guard officer, not an woman Coast Guard officer. I’ve had an amazing career and been offered a lot chances,” she said. “And I know that and I believe this is because I’ve been able at the job I’m within a .”
In the year 2000 Admiral Linda Fagan became the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard – being the first female to head any department within the U.S. military. It is unclear if the Coast Guard could not confirm on Friday that Dean is the first woman to head in the Coast Guard in Alaska, however, a list dating back to 1964 lists only males in the position.
U.S. Coast Guard District 17 has its headquarters in Juneau and oversees all of the Alaskan Coast Guard operations. Around 2,000 employees work for District 17 and it oversees 47,300 miles of coastline.
In the last season, this district carried out 521 search and rescue operations which saved 187 lives in accordance with Coast Guard data.
Dean claims that her Florida experience means that she’s experienced in working in a region that hosts lots of cruise tourism.
” style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”When I walked across the bridge in Douglas this Wednesday afternoon, believe that was it, I walked over and thought”That’s five cruise ships in there, it’s similar to Miami. I’m sure I was aware of this,” Dean said. “But it was quite interesting to see. .”
She stated it is because the industry of cruise grows to the north across the country,, also increase the dangers of a difficult rescue and evacuation operations.
Dean will replace Rear Admiral Nathan Moore, who has been in the post since 2021. Her first assignment is an excursion in the areas of Kodiak, Cordova, and Kotzebue in order to get to know more of the personnel who comprise Coast Guard District 17.
