Vivien Crea

Vivien Suzanne Crea (born 1952) 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 7 August 2009, and was replaced by VADM David Pekoske.

She previously became the first female in the U.S. Armed Forces to serve as a military aide to a President in 1984. Crea later became the first woman to command an air station when she took over Air Station Detroit in 1992. In 2000 she became the first woman to attain flag rank in the United States Coast Guard.Connie Braesch, Guardian of the Week – RDML Sandra Stosz, Coast Guard Compass, 2009 December 4 (accessed 2010 September 11). See also Sandra L. Stosz. In 2006 Crea became the first female Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard and the Coast Guard's first female vice admiral. She later became the first woman to be recognized as the USCG Ancient Albatross in 2008. In 2010, she became the first Coast Guard aviator to be inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame.

Background and education Born to a military family at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, she grew up on military bases including Germany and graduated from Seoul American High School in 1968. She earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1972. Crea earned a master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a Sloan Fellow, as well as one from Central Michigan University.

Career After seeking to join the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency in 1972, Crea was commissioned an Ensign in the Coast Guard Reserve upon graduation from Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Reserve Training Center, Yorktown, Virginia in December 1973.

She was in the first group of women to be admitted to flight school at Pensacola, earning her wings in April 1977. She then spent the next seven years flying C-130 Hercules transports at Air Station Barber's Point (Hawaii), Air Station Elizabeth City (North Carolina) and Air Station Borinquen (Puerto Rico).

As a Lieutenant Commander, she became the first woman from any service, as well as the first service member from the US Coast Guard to serve as the Presidential Military Aide, where she carried the nuclear football for President Ronald Reagan from 1984-1987.

Rear Admiral Crea previously served as Commander, First Coast Guard District in 2002, overseeing all Coast Guard operations in the Northeastern United States, from the Maine-Canada border to Northern New Jersey. Prior to that she served as Director of Information and Technology of the Coast Guard as chief information officer and oversaw the Coast Guard's Research and Development program.

As a Vice Admiral, Crea assumed command of Coast Guard Atlantic Area on 16 July 2004. This post is the operational commander for all Coast Guard activities in an area of responsibility spanning five Coast Guard Districts, over covering the Eastern and Midwestern United States from the Rocky Mountains to Maine and Mexico, out across the Atlantic and through the Caribbean Sea, involving over 33,000 military and civilian employees, and 30,000 auxiliarists. She served concurrently as Commander, Coast Guard Defense Force East.

Earlier assignments include Chief, Office of Programs in Coast Guard Headquarters, Commanding Officer of Air Station Clearwater, Executive Assistant to the Commandant of the Coast Guard; Commanding Officer, Air Station Detroit; Operations Officer, Air Station Borinquen, Puerto Rico; Coast Guard Aide to President Reagan; and many other operational assignments. As a Coast Guard aviator, Vice Admiral Crea has flown the C-130 Hercules turboprop, HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, and Gulfstream II jet.

Military awards

Coast Guard Aviator BadgeHomeland Security Distinguished Service MedalCoast Guard Distinguished Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalLegion of Merit w/ 3 award starsMeritorious Service MedalCoast Guard Commendation Medal w/Operational Distinguishing DeviceCoast Guard Achievement Medal w/ 1 award starCommandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon w/ 3 award starsSecretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit AwardCoast Guard Unit Commendation w/ 2 award starsCoast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 3 award starsMeritorious Team CommendationCoast Guard Bicentennial Unit CommendationNational Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service starsHumanitarian Service Medal w/ 2 service starsTransportation 9-11 RibbonSpecial Operations Service Ribbon w/ 2 service starsExpert Rifle MedalExpert Pistol MedalPresidential Service BadgeCommandant Staff Badge During Crea's tenure as Vice Commandant, she held the title of Ancient Albatross, the longest serving aviator in the Coast Guard.

Vivien Crea

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