Episode 4: You awake? This is the Big One with CDR Erin Palmer '09

*What does it take to lead when the call comes at 1:30 in the morning and there's no time to prepare?*  In this episode of 50 Years of *Her*Story, Nicolle Bogden '12 sits down with CDR Erin Palmer '09, a Coast Guard officer who found herself twice at the center of national crisis. First as the Operations Section Chief for the Key Bridge response, and less than a year later, in the same role for the response to the DCA plane and helicopter collision. Erin reflects on what it meant to walk into a room of first responders as one of only three Coast Guard personnel present, and how nearly two decades of formative jobs prepared her for the moments that mattered most.  Erin shares the 1:30 a.m. phone call that started it all, the chaos of standing up an incident command post with half the information. She also speaks candidly about caring for young crew members facing search efforts no training can fully prepare you for, and the lessons from one crisis she carried directly into the next.  Throughout the conversation, Erin offers reflections on decisiveness, steadiness under pressure, and what it means to lead without a script. Her story is a reminder that resilience is rarely built in a single dramatic moment, it's built long before, in the ordinary work that quietly prepares you for it.  Closing out the episode, Janie (Clark) Thomas ‘92 shares a special “Moment of Gratitude,” a heartfelt shout-out to someone who made a lasting impact on their journey. It's a moving reminder that behind every success story are the people who believed in us first.  Moment of Gratitude is a recurring segment featured at the end of every episode this season. Have someone you'd like to thank? We'd love to feature your shout-out too. Submit yours here.  As we celebrate 50 years of women at the Coast Guard Academy, we invite you to stay connected, honor this legacy, and support future generations.  **Support this Podcast**  - Stay connected by becoming a member of the USCGA Alumni Association at www.cgaalumni.org/1887 <!--THE END--> - Support the USCGA Alumni Association's 50th Anniversary initiatives: www.cgaalumni.org/herstory-gift **Keywords**  Women in Leadership, Coast Guard Academy, USCGA Alumni, 50 Years of Women at USCGA, Trailblazers, Incident Command, Emergency Management, Resilience, Leadership Under Pressure, Female Officers, Service Before Self  **Erin's Instagram:**  https://www.instagram.com/peanutbutterandfitness/  **Erin's food blog:** https://www.peanutbutterandfitness.com/