With the start of a new administration, it’s not unusual to see resignations and firings. The firing of United States Coast Guard (USCG) Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan – the Armed Forces’ first female service chief – has raised eyebrows across the Coast Guard community and beyond. Former senior leaders of the USCG reached out to Homeland Security Today (HSToday) to share some of their thoughts and concerns.
Among those expressing concern are Charles “Skip” Bowen, who spent over 32 years with the USCG and retired as Master Chief Petty Officer in 2010; HSToday Board member and 30-year USCG veteran, retired Master Chief Vincent Patton, EdD; and former USCG Commandant Admiral Thad Allen, who devoted 39 years to the USCG. All three worked with Admiral Fagan during her 40-year tenure, and agree with the statement put forth by Admiral Allen: “Her dismissal is not a matter of her performance. It is political performance. One that should cause great concern for current and future military leaders.”
Though not supplied in the original statement of dismissal by the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), other DHS officials later stated that Admiral Fagan was terminated for leadership deficiencies. Specifically, such things as failure to address border security threats; recruiting shortfalls; excessive focus on diversity initiatives; and poor response to reports of sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy (the investigation was known as Operation Fouled Anchor, and reviewed leadership’s mishandling of reports from the 1980s to the early 2000s).
Master Chief Bowen and Master Chief Patton provided the following statement to HSToday: “The reasons cited do not add up. This termination is wrong.
We personally know Admiral Fagan to be a strong leader who has been incredibly positive for the Coast Guard. Various news articles reference failure to address border security, insufficient leadership in recruitment and retention, mismanagement in acquiring key acquisitions such as icebreakers and helicopters, excessive focus on DEI initiatives and an erosion of trust over the mishandling of Operation Fouled Anchor.
Regarding border security… this year, as in every year the Coast Guard is holding the line against illegal incursions of all types including drugs, weapons, and people. Under Admiral Fagan’s leadership the Coast Guard has continued to defend the border despite a chronically insufficient budget, too few ships, personnel and other challenges not of Admiral Fagan’s making.
The issues with recruitment and retention started well before Admiral Fagan’s tenure. She has worked hard to fix them and recently the Coast Guard exceeded its recruiting goals for the first time in several years. Retention is also on the rise and well on its way to regaining its previous historically high levels.
We don’t even know what to say about allegations that Admiral Fagan has mismanaged major acquisitions. Again, the problems cited were years, even decades in the making and we have personally seen how Admiral Fagan’s leadership has positively impacted current efforts. The Coast Guard is moving forward on these acquisitions, some of which have languished for years. We are moving forward specifically because of Admiral Fagan’s strong leadership.
Decision makers may be conflating Admiral Fagan’s work to ensure that the Coast Guard’s culture provides a positive environment for the entire workforce, with an excessive focus on DEI initiatives. We don’t understand how anyone can object to improving the culture and ensuring that Coast Guard men and women live and work in a fair environment free from harassment and bullying.
Finally, the roots of Operation Fouled Anchor lie in leadership failures going back many decades to address harassment and assaults in the service. Admiral Fagan is the first Commandant to significantly address the problem. She has put in place major policy changes that will largely prevent such failures going forward.
Admiral Fagan’s firing is wrong. There is no other way to say it. She is an honorable officer who has given her entire life to the Coast Guard and this is the wrong way for the new administration to end her career.”
Admiral Allen shared his assessment of Admiral Fagan’s commitment to the Coast Guard in a statement shared with HSToday, “She is a leader of character and integrity who I relied on for counsel and support as the Commandant of the Coast Guard and would do so again without hesitation. She has dedicated her entire professional life to serving her country and excelled in every position of responsibility. She has faced the most difficult challenges in a responsible, forthright and forward-looking manner … always acting in the best interest of the Service.”