Rear Admiral Cynthia Coogan is currently assigned as the Assistant Commandant for Intelligence and Criminal Investigations. It is her responsibility to direct, coordinate, and oversee intelligence and investigative operations and activities that support all Coast Guard mission objectives, the National Strategy for Homeland Security, and National Security objectives.
Prior to reporting to the Intelligence and Criminal Investigations directorate, Rear Admiral Coogan served as the Director of Reserve and Training. As the Director of the Coast Guard Reserve, she was responsible for the recruitment, training, allocation and support for more than 12,500 Coast Guard Reservists.
Rear Admiral Coogan has served in a wide variety of operational command and staff assignments, including Chief of Operations for the First Coast Guard District in Boston, Massachusetts, where she was responsible for oversight and planning of operational missions in the Northeast. Additional operational assignments include Commander of Group Portland in South Portland, Maine, Commander of Group Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, Commanding Officer of Station San Francisco, and Operations Officer at Group San Francisco.
Rear Admiral Coogan also completed assignments as the Military Adjutant to the Secretary of Transportation, Executive Assistant to the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and Deputy Chief of Staff at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Her previous staff assignments include strategic planner for the Commandant in the Office of the Chief of Staff; communication strategist in the Office of Governmental and Congressional Affairs; Contracting Officer in the Commercial Activities Branch within the Office of Acquisition in the Contracts Support Division of Coast Guard Headquarters; Admissions Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut; and an initial tour following commissioning at U.S. Coast Guard Support Center, New York.
She received her commission through the Coast Guard Officer Candidate School in Yorktown, Virginia. She graduated from the University of Delaware where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree. Rear Admiral Coogan has a Master of Business Administration Degree from The George Washington University, a Master of Science Degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, and completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI, concentrating on Foreign Politics, International Relations and the National Interest.
Rear Admiral Coogan’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal with the Operational Distinguishing Device (five awards), 9/11 Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal (two awards) and Coast Guard Achievement Medal (five awards).