Sandra L. Stosz

Last updated
Sandra L. Stosz
Sandra L. Stosz.jpg
Vice Admiral Stosz
Birth nameSandra Leigh Stosz
Born1960 (age 62–63)
Takoma Park, Maryland, U.S. [1]
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg United States
Service/branchFlag of the United States Coast Guard.svg  United States Coast Guard
Years of service1982–2018
Rank USCG O-9 shoulderboard.svg Vice admiral
Commands held U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Training Center Cape May

USCGC Reliance

USCGC Katmai Bay
Awards Legion of Merit

Meritorious Service Medal (four awards)
Coast Guard Commendation Medal (two awards)
Coast Guard Achievement Medal (two awards)

Contents

[2]
Alma mater United States Coast Guard Academy (1978-1982)
Spouse(s)Bob Volpe
RelationsMax Stosz (father)
Joy Stosz
3 brothers

Sandra Leigh Stosz (born 1960) is a retired United States Coast Guard Vice Admiral whose final active duty assignment was as Deputy Commandant for Mission Support. Previously, she was chosen by the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, ADM Robert J. Papp to become the superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2011. [3] As such, she is the first woman to lead a United States service academy. [4] [5] At the time of her appointment to head the Coast Guard Academy, she was the Coast Guard's director of Reserve and leadership. [6] Stosz was confirmed as a vice admiral in May 2015.

Early life and education

Stosz as a lieutenant in 1991, with U.S. President George H.W. Bush. ADM-Stosz001.jpg
Stosz as a lieutenant in 1991, with U.S. President George H.W. Bush.

Stosz was the Maryland state discus champion while at Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City, and a Junior Olympic-caliber swimmer. [7]

Stosz, a 1982 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, holds a master of business administration degree from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Illinois.

Career

Stosz is the first female graduate of the Coast Guard Academy to achieve flag rank. [8] At the academy, she competed for Coast Guard's sailing team, which became co-educational, and for the men's swimming team before women's sports were introduced. [7]

In 1990, as a Coast Guard lieutenant, Stosz became the first woman to command a Coast Guard cutter in the Great Lakes. [9] The cutter was USCGC Katmai Bay (WTGB 101), which, homeported in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, has operated since her 1979 launching in the Great Lakes as a unit of the Ninth Coast Guard District. The Katmai Bay is a 140-foot ice-breaking tug, with a crew of 17 (3 officers and 14 enlisted). [10] She has also served as the commanding officer of United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, New Jersey. [11]

Flag officer

In her role as leader of the Coast Guard Reserve, early in 2011 she announced plans to raise the Coast Guard Reserve to 8,100 personnel from the 7,600 reservists available in 2010; the reason was partly experience with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, during which the Coast Guard struggled with insufficient reserve personnel to support the active-duty contingent. [12]

Academy

In 2013, on behalf of Coast Guard Academy, Stosz signed an interagency agreement with Vice Admiral Michael S. Devany, chief of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [13]

In September 2014, it was announced that Stosz would be continue service as an admiral. Prior to Stosz, all USCGA superintendents had retired upon completion of their term. [14]

Stosz's tenure at the academy ended on 1 June 2015, when she was relieved by Rear Admiral James Rendon. The change of command ceremony was supervised by the Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Peter V. Neffenger. [15]

2015–2018

Stosz was confirmed as vice admiral by the US Senate on Sunday 31 May 2015, and 'frocked' in an impromptu ceremony the next day before handing over command of the academy. She served in Washington as deputy commandant for mission support [16] until relieved by Vice Adm. Michael F. McAllister on 25 May 2018. [17]

Personal life

Stosz is married to Bob Volpe, a retired U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant commander. [16]

In a People Magazine profile, she described her career in the U.S. Coast Guard as her "lifetime adventure". Her parents were chemical engineers Max Stosz and his wife Joy. Stosz has three siblings, all brothers. [1]

She has described her "most enjoyable assignment" as being her initial tour, once completing her studies at Coast Guard Academy, as an ensign on the icebreaker USCGC Glacier (AGB/WAG/WAGB 4), which took her to Haiti, New Zealand, various South Pacific islands, and Antarctica.

Honors

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Coast Guard Academy</span> U.S. Coast Guard service academy

The United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) is a service academy of the United States Coast Guard in New London, Connecticut. Founded in 1876, it is the smallest of the five U.S. service academies and provides education to future Coast Guard officers in one of nine major fields of study.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merlin O'Neill</span>

Merlin O'Neill served as the tenth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1 January 1950 to 1 June 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thad Allen</span> United States Coast Guard admiral (born 1949)

Thad William Allen is a former admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 23rd commandant from 2006 to 2010. Allen is best known for his widely praised performance directing the federal response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast region from September 2005 to January 2006, and for his role as National Incident Commander of the Unified Command for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Robert J. Papp Jr. succeeded him as Commandant on 25 May 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vivien Crea</span> US Coast Guard admiral

Vivien Suzanne Crea was the 25th Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard under Admiral Thad W. Allen. Vice Commandant is the second highest position in the Coast Guard, and she was the first woman to hold it. She is the former Commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area, and was confirmed by the Senate to her historic post in June 2006. Crea retired on August 7, 2009, and was replaced by VADM David Pekoske.

This article covers the organization of the United States Coast Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert J. Papp Jr.</span> U.S. Coast Guard Commandant

Admiral Robert Joseph Papp Jr. is a retired admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 24th commandant from 2010 to 2014. He led the largest component of the United States Department of Homeland Security, with 42,000 active duty, 8,200 Reserve, 8,000 civilian, and 31,000 Auxiliary personnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sally Brice-O'Hara</span> Vice-Commandant of the United States Coast Guard

Vice Admiral Sally Brice-O'Hara is an American woman who was the 27th Vice-Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James A. Watson</span>

James Angus Watson IV is a retired United States Coast Guard Rear Admiral. He currently serves as a senior vice president at the American Bureau of Shipping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul F. Zukunft</span> US Coast Guard Admiral

Paul Frederick Zukunft is a retired admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 25th commandant. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Commandant, with the rank of admiral, in May 2014 and relieved Robert J. Papp Jr. as commandant on 30 May 2014. Prior to his selection as Commandant, he served as Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area. In this position, Zukunft was the operational commander for all U.S. Coast Guard missions within the half of the world that ranges from the Rocky Mountains to the waters off the East Coast of Africa. He concurrently served as Commander, Defense Force West and provided U.S. Coast Guard mission support to the U.S. Department of Defense and Combatant Commanders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles W. Thomas (captain)</span> Flag officer in United States Coast Guard (1903–1973)

Charles Ward "Tommy" Thomas was a flag officer in the United States Coast Guard and commanding officer of the icebreakers USCGC Northland (WPG-49) and USCGC Eastwind (WAGB-279) that served in the Greenland Patrol during World War II. In August 1945 he was appointed commander of Greenland Patrol. After the war he was commanding officer of USCGC Northwind (WAGB-282) during Operation Highjump; The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Project 1946–1947, also known as the Fourth Byrd Antarctic Expedition. Later followed expeditions in the Bering Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellis L. Perry</span> American vice admiral and Coast Guard officer

Ellis L. Perry was a vice admiral and Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in the United States Coast Guard</span>

There have been women in the United States Coast Guard since 1918, and women continue to serve in it today.

USCGC <i>Joseph Gerczak</i> American Sentinel-class Coast Guard cutter

USCGC Joseph Gerczak (WPC-1126) is the 26th Sentinel-class cutter built for the United States Coast Guard. She is one of three Fast Response Cutters homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl L. Schultz</span> US Coast Guard admiral

Karl Leo Schultz is a retired United States Coast Guard admiral who served as the 26th Commandant of the Coast Guard from 2018 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Ray (admiral)</span> 31st Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard

Charles W. Ray is a retired United States Coast Guard admiral who served as the vice commandant of the Coast Guard from May 24, 2018 to June 18, 2021. He previously served as the Coast Guard's deputy commandant for operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Coast Guard order of battle</span>

The following January 2019 order of battle is for the United States Coast Guard.

Donald McGregor Morrison was a vice admiral in the United States Coast Guard who served as the eighth Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1962 to 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda L. Fagan</span> American Coast Guard admiral (born 1963)

Linda Lee Fagan is a United States Coast Guard admiral who serves as the 27th Commandant of the Coast Guard. Previously, in 2021 she became the 32nd Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard’s first female four-star admiral. Before that, she was the commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area with prior terms as Coast Guard Deputy for Operations, Policy, and Capabilities, commander, First Coast Guard District, and commander, Coast Guard Sector New York. Fagan is also the Coast Guard's first Gold Ancient Trident, the officer with the longest service record in the Marine Safety Field. In April 2021, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced her nomination as the next Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard, succeeding Charles W. Ray. She was confirmed on June 17, 2021, and assumed office on June 18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USCGC Eagle Commanding Officers</span>

The following is a list of Commanding Officers of USCGC Eagle (WIX-327). There have been a total of 31 Eagle captains during her 77 years under USCG commission, and 5 during her 10 years of commission as Horst Wessel under the Kriegsmarine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joanna Nunan</span> 14th Superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Coast Guard admiral

Joanna M. Nunan is a United States Maritime Service vice admiral, and a retired United States Coast Guard rear admiral, who has served as the 14th superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy since December 8, 2022. The first woman to become superintendent of the Academy, her appointment was lauded by secretary of transportation Pete Buttigieg and administrator of the United States Maritime Administration Ann C. Phillips.

References

  1. 1 2 Chu, Dan. "She's No Party Animal, but When It Comes to Breaking the Ice, Sandra Stosz Knows No Peer". People Magazine. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
  2. ↑ Rear Admiral Sandra L. Stosz bio on the web site of the United States Coast Guard, United States Department of Homeland Security.
  3. ↑ Altimari, Daniela (2010-12-15). "Military academy gets female leader". Times-Picayune. No. Saint Tammany Edition. New Orleans. p. A2. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  4. ↑ "First woman to take helm of a U.S. military academy". United States Coast Guard Academy Media Port. 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  5. ↑ Malec, William A. (May 2012). "Female firsts". Military Officer. Military Officers Association of America. p. 19. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
  6. ↑ Director of Reserve and Training United States Coast Guard (accessed 2010 September 9).
  7. 1 2 3 Coast Guard Academy's Stosz on 40th anniversary of Title IX: 'Without sports, I wouldn't be where I am today', Vickie Fulketrson, Orlando Sentinel, 23 June 2012, accessed 2 June 2015
  8. ↑ The first woman to achieve flag rank in the U.S. Coast Guard was Vice Admiral Vivien Crea, who received her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin; Coast Guard Academy began admitting women in 1976, and Stosz was in the third graduating class to contain women. Braesch, Connie (2009-12-04). "Guardian of the Week – RDML Sandra Stosz". Coast Guard Compass. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  9. ↑ Manning, Elizabeth H. (2010-09-10). "Live lessons for a strategic plan: New Coast Guard Reserve chief sets her sights on 2020". Officer. Vol. 86, no. 4. Reserve Officers Association. pp. 46–47.
  10. ↑ Coast Guard specifications for the Katmai Bay (WTGB 101), accessed 2010 September 12.
  11. ↑ "USCG: Flag/SES Bios - Assistant Commandant for Human Resources". www.uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 2007-05-18.
  12. ↑ Stosz, Sandra (January–February 2011). "From quick response to new horizons: 2010 events emphasized the importance of the Coast guard Reserve and served as a foundation to build a stronger future force". Officer. Vol. 87, no. 1. Reserve Officers Association. pp. 52–54. Archived from the original on 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  13. ↑ Philpott, Tom (April 2015). "Future focus". Military Officer. Vol. 13, no. 4. p. 61. Retrieved 2015-03-28.
  14. ↑ Rear Adm. Stosz to Continue with Coast Guard, Tess Townsend, Military.com, 12 September 2014, accessed 2 June 2015
  15. ↑ New superintendent takes helm at Coast Guard Academy, Associated Press / Navy Times, 1 June 2015
  16. 1 2 Rendon takes the helm from Stosz at Coast Guard Academy, Julia Bergman, The Day, 1 June 2015
  17. ↑ "Deputy Commandant for Mission Support Change of Watch". dvidshub.net. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-01.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Sandra L. Stosz at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.