Sandra Stosz

Retired Vice Admiral Sandra Stosz is a pioneering leader in American military and maritime service whose career in the United States Coast Guard spanned more than 40 years. Widely recognized for breaking barriers and advancing leadership opportunities for women in the armed forces, Stosz held some of the Coast Guard's most influential positions and helped shape the future of the service through her commitment to excellence, accountability, and innovation.

A graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy, Stosz was among the early generations of women to attend the academy following its admission of female cadets in 1976. She went on to build a distinguished operational career that included assignments aboard Coast Guard cutters, command positions, and senior leadership roles focused on maritime safety, security, and workforce development. Her expertise in both operational and organizational leadership earned her a reputation as one of the Coast Guard's most respected officers.

In 2011, Stosz became the first woman to serve as Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy, where she oversaw the education and training of future military leaders. During her tenure, she championed academic excellence, character development, and efforts to foster a culture of integrity and inclusion. Her leadership at the academy reinforced its mission of preparing cadets to meet the increasingly complex challenges facing the maritime and national security sectors.

Stosz later served as Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, one of the Coast Guard's highest-ranking positions, where she was responsible for managing the service's workforce, technology, infrastructure, acquisitions, and logistics operations. In that role, she helped guide modernization initiatives and organizational reforms affecting tens of thousands of active-duty, reserve, civilian, and auxiliary personnel worldwide.

Since retiring from active duty, Stosz has remained active as a speaker, advisor, and advocate for leadership development, ethics, and public service. Her groundbreaking career and commitment to mentorship have made her an influential voice on organizational leadership and workforce excellence.