WASHINGTON -- The superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy will turn over the helm to a woman next year, marking the first time in U.S. history a military service academy will have a female commander.
Coast Guard commandant, Adm. Robert J. Papp, selected Director of Reserve and Leadership Rear Adm. Sandra L. Stosz as the next academy superintendent, the Coast Guard announced Tuesday. Stosz' current position oversees developing policies to recruit, train and support the over 8,000 Cost Guard reservists.
Stosz, who commanded the Coast Guard's only recruit training center in Cape May, N.J., will relieve current superintendent Rear Adm. J. Scott Burhoe for when classes convene next summer.
"I am humbled by the prospect of taking over such an important position in our service and honored to be following Rear Adm. Burhoe," says Stosz. "The school and officer corps have benefited in so many ways from Scott's outstanding leadership and vision."
Under Burhoe's command, the institution was ranked first among northeast colleges by U.S. News and World Report. The school also doubled its minority admissions from 12 percent in 2008 to 24 percent in 2010 during his tenure, according to a Coast Guard release.
"Rear Adm. Stosz is an excellent choice to succeed me as superintendent," says Burhoe, "She has a distinguished record of service, and as a member of the board of trustees understands the importance of continuing to move the academy forward on its current track."
In addition to the serving on the board, Stosz also chairs the Commandant's Leadership Advisory Council.