Episode 8: There's Not Another Version of Me with ADM Linda Fagan '85 (Ret.)

**Who are you when the title and the uniform come off?** This episode welcomes ADM Linda Fagan '85, USCG (Ret.), the 27th Commandant of the Coast Guard and the first woman to lead a U.S. military service. Linda grew up sailing along the New England coast, passing Coast Guard stations nearly every weekend, and chose the Academy after finding a pamphlet in her high school counselor's office. She reported in 1981, a year after the first women graduated, and was one of only 16 women in her class to graduate. Linda is candid that she didn't love her time as a cadet. She describes a hard third-class year, a barracks with few women in it, and the crew team that gave her somewhere to belong. That team was later inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. She shares how upperclassmen kept one another from leaving by paying it forward, and how her own views on the Academy changed when one of her daughters came through decades later and found a very different place. She also talks about raising two daughters during her active-duty career, and about the values she leads with: self-awareness, empathy, humility, and authenticity. Linda also reflects openly on how her time as Commandant ended, on setting down the anger, and on getting to know herself again without the armor of the job, with some help from a rescue dog named Guinness. She leaves today's cadets a challenge: culture exists whether you talk about it or not, and each person owns their piece of it. Her story is a reminder that leadership starts with leading yourself. Closing out the episode, LT Victoria Sparacino ‘18 shares a special "Moment of Gratitude," a heartfelt shout-out to someone who made a lasting impact on her 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 **Keywords** Women in Leadership, Coast Guard Academy, USCGA Alumni, 50 Years of Women at USCGA, Trailblazers, Coast Guard Firsts, Commandant, Linda Fagan, Women in the Military, Crew, Athletic Hall of Fame, Mentorship, Authenticity, Self-Leadership, Empathy, Military Families, Life After Service, Academy Culture, Long Blue Line, Legacy