Martha J. LaGuardia-Kotite

Martha LaGuardia-Kotite is one of the first female officers to serve aboard two Coast Guard cutters, patrolling the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the Caribbean Sea, leading all-male crews and teams through numerous disasters during her decades long military career. Hand-picked to work in Washington D.C. as the Commandant’s Press Secretary, she helped manage critical events like the Haitian earthquake and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and later served as an Emergency Preparedness Liaison to FEMA. Her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, six Commendation Medals, three Achievement Medals, and numerous service and team accolades.