50 Years of HerStory

USCGA Alumni Association

5.0 (2)
Non-Profit

50 Years of HerStory is a limited-series podcast produced by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association. Through personal stories and in-depth conversations, the series celebrates five decades of women at the Academy, reflecting on the trailblazers who led the way, the generations that followed, and the legacies still being written today.

1d ago

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/1887Keywords 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
Sep 24

Episode 7: It Was the People with CDR Andrea Smith '01 (Ret.)

What makes someone stay in a place they were ready to leave? In this episode of 50 Years of HerStory, Nicolle Bogden '12 sits down with CDR Andrea (Parker) Smith '01 (Ret.), who arrived at the Coast Guard Academy in 1997 as one of three African American women in her class. She was planning to only stay for a year to make good on a deal she made with her father. Fast forward four years, she graduated as the first African American woman to earn an engineering degree from the Academy. Her career went on to carry her from September 11th in New York to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and back to the Academy as an instructor. Andrea shares why it was the people, not the missions, who kept her in the Coast Guard, from the chiefs who helped her qualify on her first cutter to the Jacksonville commanding officer who made her feel she could be her authentic self. She talks about defining success on her own terms, the history of Genesis Council and Eclipse, and where cadets and junior officers can find community when the groups they counted on are no longer there. Throughout the conversation, Andrea also opens up about her family's path from fertility treatment to adoption, and the Coast Guard family that surrounded them along the way. Asked what she would tell herself just before graduating in 2001, her answer is simple: trust yourself, because no one else can give you your confidence. Her story is a reminder that a career is rarely built on a plan, but on the people who pour into you along the way. Closing out the episode, CDR Erica Mohr '96, USCG (ret.), 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/1887Andrea's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-jp-smith/ Keywords Women in Leadership, Coast Guard Academy, USCGA Alumni, 50 Years of Women at USCGA, Trailblazers, Engineering, Coast Guard Firsts, Mentorship, Diversity and Inclusion, Affinity Groups, Genesis Council, Eclipse, Belonging, Community, Resilience, Redefining Success, Hurricane Katrina, Adoption, Legacy
Sep 9

Episode 6: Four Years Before with CDR Jim Quinn '76 (Ret.)

What does it take to watch struggle to catch up to the change, and still trust it enough to send your own daughter there? In this episode of 50 Years of HerStory, Nicolle Bogden '12 sits down with CDR Jim Quinn '76 (Ret.), who walked through the gates of the Coast Guard Academy in 1972, four years before women were admitted. Jim reflects candidly on what that all-male institution looked like from the inside, and on the moment he learned that women would finally be admitted to the Academy he'd just graduated from. Jim doesn't shy away from the harder parts of the story. He talks openly about a service that wasn't prepared for the cultural shift it was about to undergo, his own early blind spots, and the influence of his wife in pushing him toward a more equal way of thinking. He shares the staff meeting ritual he built years later, no desks, everyone in a circle, everyone required to speak, that helped him become a leader who could really listen. And he reflects with real admiration on the women of the Class of 1980 and the classes right behind them, calling them some of the toughest people he's ever known. The conversation turns personal when Jim talks about his daughter, Caitlin, who graduated from the Academy in 2007. A full circle moment for a father who once walked through those same gates in a very different Coast Guard. Closing out the episode, Maureen Whitehurst, OCS 1-76, 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 PodcastStay connected by becoming a member of the USCGA Alumni Association at www.cgaalumni.org/1887Support the USCGA Alumni Association's 50th Anniversary initiatives: www.cgaalumni.org/herstory-giftKeywordsWomen in Leadership, Coast Guard Academy, USCGA Alumni, 50 Years of Women at USCGA, Trailblazers, Male Allyship, Mentorship, Generational Change, Fatherhood, Integration, Legacy
Aug 26

Episode 5: Be Respected, Not Liked with Vice Admiral Sandra "Sandy" Stosz '82

Episode 5: Be Respected, Not Liked with Vice Admiral Sandra "Sandy" Stosz '82 What does it take to be first – first woman to command a Coast Guard cutter on the Great Lakes, first woman to lead a U.S. armed forces service academy – and still insist you never wanted to be defined by it? In this episode of 50 Years of HerStory, Nicolle Bogden '12 sits down with retired Vice Admiral Sandy Stosz '82, who entered the Coast Guard Academy as part of just its third class of women and, four decades later, retired as one of the most senior women in Coast Guard history. Sandy traces her path from a tomboy childhood outside Baltimore through a Coast Guard Academy experience defined as much by brutal academics and mandatory cadet dances as by the classmates and cadre who had her back. Sandy shares what it was like, in 1990, to take command of the icebreaking cutter Katmai Bay on the Great Lakes as the first woman ever to do so, including being told by her own district commander she was just "the secretary's fair-haired golden girl," and how she won over a skeptical thousand-foot ore carrier captain not with authority, but with a question. She talks candidly about returning to the Academy in 2011 as its first female superintendent, the scrutiny that came with it. Throughout the conversation, Sandy returns to the idea of the "control paradox", you can't control how people treat you, but you can control how you respond, and offers hard-won advice on building trust through competence rather than chasing likability. Her story is a reminder that being first is rarely about the spotlight; it's about building the trust that makes room for everyone who comes after. Closing out the episode, Megan (Blackeby) McGrath '94 shares this episode's "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/1887Support the USCGA Alumni Association's 50th Anniversary initiatives: www.cgaalumni.org/herstory-giftPurchase the commemorative 50 Years scarf, with proceeds supporting the celebration: www.50yearscarf.com Keywords Women in Leadership, Coast Guard Academy, USCGA Alumni, 50 Years of Women at USCGA, Trailblazers, First Female Superintendent, Icebreaking, Great Lakes, Command at Sea, Mentorship, Diversity and Inclusion, Resilience, Leadership Under Pressure, Female Officers, Service Before Self Sandy's website: https://sandrastosz.com/ Sandy's book: Breaking Ice and Breaking Glass: Leading in Uncharted Waters (proceeds benefit the Coast Guard Academy)
Aug 12

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 HerStory, 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 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/
Jul 29

Episode 3: Friend or Foe with Linda McTeigue '80

How do you tell who's on your side, and who isn't, when you're one of the first women in the room? In this episode of 50 Years of HerStory, Nicolle Bogden '12 sits down with Linda McTeigue '80, a member of the first class of women to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Linda's path to New London began with her mother, a single mom and lifelong advocate for women's rights, who lobbied Congress and President Nixon to open the service academies to women in the first place and also talked Linda into “just trying it” with the promise of a car. Linda reflects on arriving at the Academy never intending to stay, and on the classmates, coaches, and quiet acts of courage that kept her there. Linda shares what it meant to finish first in her class academically, and the harassment that followed for daring to do it; the pivotal conversation with the dean that redirected her toward MIT and a pioneering career in the early computer industry; and the ways she later carried the Academy's lessons in resilience and risk-taking into a corporate world with its own glass ceiling. She also reflects on becoming a mentor to the women who came after her, and on the friendships, like the one with classmate CAPT Joanne McCaffrey '80, that helped an entire class stay the course together. Throughout the conversation, Linda offers reflections on legacy, unity, and what it takes to keep progress from sliding backward. Her story is a reminder that lasting change rarely comes from one dramatic stand, but from small, shared risks taken together, and from mothers, coaches, classmates, and even anonymous allies who choose to proceed forward. Closing out the episode, Tami (Bellville) Toscano '84 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/1887Support 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, MIT, Computer Science, Corporate Leadership, Resilience, Belonging, Legacy, Mentorship, Breaking Barriers, Female Pioneers, Service Before Self, Leadership Through Service
Jul 15

Episode 2: Show Up Anyway with Patti Tutalo '00

What happens when the odds say you shouldn't even be there, and you stay anyway? In this episode of 50 Years of HerStory, Nicolle Bogden '12 sits down with Patti Tutalo, U.S. Coast Guard Academy Class of 2000, whose path to the Academy nearly ended before it began. Two months before reporting to the Naval Academy Prep School, Patti survived a serious bicycle accident that left her without a spleen, down 40% of her blood, and told by doctors to rest for a month she didn't have. Patti reflects on showing up anyway, on the friendships, tutoring trades, and sheer mind-over-matter that carried her through four years she "wasn't supposed to" make it through. She shares the moment when she found a way to tell the entire Corps, in coded language, that there was a safe place for those struggling with disordered eating. And she talks candidly about the instinct that's defined her since: an inability to sit with someone else's pain and do nothing about it. From her Coast Guard career and her continued work mentoring cadets and serving on a National Academies committee, Patti's story is a reminder that purpose doesn't always announce itself. Sometimes it just keeps tugging at your heart until you do something about it. Closing out the episode, CAPT Amy Baribeau Cocanour ’92, USCG (Ret.), shares her own "Moment of Gratitude," honoring the sponsor family who opened their home to her and countless other cadets throughout her time at the Academy. 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/1887Support 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, Resilience, Advocacy, Mentorship, Women Veterans, WAVES, Gender Policy, Sexual Assault Prevention, Female Pioneers, Service Before Self, Leadership Through Service
Jul 1

Episode 1: The First to Arrive with CAPT Joanne McCaffrey '80

What does it look like to be part of history while it's still unfolding? In this inaugural episode of 50 Years of HerStory, Nicolle Bogden '12 sits down with CAPT Joanne McCaffrey '80, a member of the first class of women to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Joanne reflects on what it meant to step into an institution not yet built for her, and how that experience shaped a distinguished career as a Coast Guard civil engineer. Joanne shares the moments that tested her, the relationships that sustained her, and the quiet, persistent ways meaningful change often begins, not through sweeping reform, but by asking a question, challenging a long-standing assumption, or simply believing things can be better for those who come next. Throughout the conversation, Joanne offers reflections on resilience, belonging, and what it means to carry the weight of being "first." Her story is a powerful reminder that the legacy of progress is built one decision, one relationship, and one act of quiet courage at a time. Closing out the episode, CAPT Elizabeth Young '89, USCG (ret.), 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/1887Support the USCGA Alumni Association's 50th Anniversary initiatives: www.cgaalumni.org/herstory-giftPurchase the commemorative 50 Years scarf, with proceeds supporting the celebration: www.50yearscarf.com Keywords Women in Leadership, Coast Guard Academy, USCGA Alumni, 50 Years of Women at USCGA, Trailblazers, Civil Engineering, Military Leadership, Resilience, Belonging, Legacy, Mentorship, Breaking Barriers, Female Pioneers, Service Before Self, Leadership Through Service
Mar 31

Ep. 0 - Every Story Deserves to Be Told

This episode explores the significance of the 50th anniversary of women at the USCGA, highlighting storytelling, in-person events, and the collaborative effort behind the commemorative project. Guests Andrea Marcille, President of the USCGA Alumni Association, and Tara King Clark, VP of Comms & Marketing, share insights on history, community engagement, and future initiatives. Keywords USCGA, women in the Coast Guard, alumni stories, 50th anniversary, storytelling, multimedia project, in-person events, community engagement Key Topics Significance of the 50th anniversary for USCGARole of storytelling in preserving historyIn-person engagement and regional eventsCollaborative efforts and sponsorships for the project Guests Andrea Marcille, President, USCGA Alumni Association Tara King Clark, VP of Comms & Marketing, USCGA Alumni Association Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Logistics 02:54 Celebrating 50 Years of Women at the Academy 05:53 The Importance of Storytelling 09:06 Creating Safe Spaces for Alumni 11:58 In-Person Engagement and Events 14:58 Inclusivity in Commemoration 18:08 Sponsorships and Community Involvement 21:13 The Role of the Podcast 23:58 Final Thoughts and Future Plans Resources USCGA Women 50th Anniversary Website - https://cgawomen50.org Colette Travel (French Riviera Trip) - https://colette-travel.com
Trailer

Coming Soon - 50 Years of Courage & Counting

Fifty years ago, women first walked through the gates of the United States Coast Guard Academy. They came with determination, with uncertainty, with courage. They stayed. Through thoughtful conversations, we're honoring the women who paved the way, reflecting on the journey of the last five decades, and celebrating the impact still unfolding today. Follow 50 years of HerStory and join us as we share these stories throughout the year. 50 years of courage and counting.

1 Trailer

9 Episodes

Trailer

Coming Soon - 50 Years of Courage & Counting

Fifty years ago, women first walked through the gates of the United States Coast Guard Academy. They came with determination, with uncertainty, with courage. They stayed. Through thoughtful conversations, we're honoring the women who paved the way, reflecting on the journey of the last five decades, and celebrating the impact still unfolding today. Follow 50 years of HerStory and join us as we share these stories throughout the year. 50 years of courage and counting.

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50 Years of HerStory is a limited-series podcast produced by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association. Through personal stories and in-depth conversations, the series celebrates five decades of women at the Academy, reflecting on the trailblazers who led the way, the generations that followed, and the legacies still being written today.

Creator

USCGA Alumni Association
Years Active

2026
Episodes

10
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 USCGA Alumni Association

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