On June 28, 2023, Dean Tolstoy and Director Dolšak hosted Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the U. S. Coast Guard and SMEA alumna (MMA ’00). For reference, Admiral Fagan is the 27^th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), overseeing operations of more than 50,000 members and a fleet of 259 cutters, 200 aircraft, and 1,600 boats. Admiral Fagan was in Seattle to preside over the change of command ceremony for Healy, an active icebreaker homeported in Seattle. On this occasion, she visited her alma mater, School of Marine and Environmental Affairs in the College of the Environment.

Dean Tolstoy, who led 18 research expeditions at sea as chief or co-chief scientist, expressed her deep gratitude for the work of U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in providing maritime safety and supporting ocean research. Admiral Fagan, Dean Tolstoy, and Director Dolšak discussed new challenges in providing maritime safety, security, and stewardship in response to climate change, rapidly evolving ocean technologies, such as deep seabed mining and submersibles, and new overlapping resource uses, such as fisheries, ocean renewable energy, undersea cables, and transportation. Admiral Fagan spoke of the role the USCG in promoting sustainable fisheries practices by supporting collaboration among contracting parties in regional fisheries management organizations.

Director Dolšak shared information about the careers of SMEA graduates working in international fisheries management organizations, fisheries law enforcement operations, and marine stewardship. For example, SMEA graduates are representing Japan and USA on the North Pacific Fisheries Commission: Shingo Ota (MMA ‘91), the Chair of the Commission; Dan Hull (MMA ’92), the Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee; Wataru Tanoue (MMA ’15) and Megan Willman (MMA ’22), LCDR USCG, both serving on the Technical and Compliance Committee. Director Dolšak also presented Admiral Fagan a copy of an article from Proceedings, the USCG Journal of Safety and Security at Sea, summarizing a SMEA capstone project examining the impact of lifting the ban on crude oil exports on spill preparedness and the environment. The project was completed by Valerie Cleland (MMA ’18), Senior Ocean Advocate at NRDC and Ian Hanna (MMA ’18), LCDR USCG. The article was written in response to the invitation by John Downing (MMA ’19), USCG CDR.

During the visit, Admiral Fagan fondly remembered her years at SMEA when she balanced USCG responsibilities, graduate studies, and time with family. She spoke about the impact of her graduate studies on her work in port management. She noted that Seattle is a special community due to its deep connection to maritime industry, fisheries, coastal tourism and commitment to sustainability and human wellbeing.

We wish all USCG service members, and USCGC Healy fair winds and following seas.