Zeita Merchant

Zeita Merchant
EducationTougaloo College, Bachelor's of Science (Biology)
George Washington University, Master's of Public Administration
Military career
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch
Coast Guard
Service years
1997-present
Rank
Rear Admiral (Lower Half)
Commands2016 Marine Safety Unit Chicago
2024 U.S. Coast Guard Personnel Service Center
2026 Commander of the U. S. Coast Guard East District
Awards2018 Captain David H. Jarvis Inspirational Leadership Award

Zeita Merchant is the current Commander of the U. S. Coast Guard East District. In 2024 she became the first female African-American to be appointed rear admiral lower half in Coast Guard history.

Education

Merchant graduated from Tougaloo College with a bachelor of science degree in biology. She also earned a master of public administration degree from George Washington University.

Career

Merchant joined the Coast Guard in 1997 and stated the following about the organization's gender and race bias at the time: "Everywhere I served I saw other women but they were juniors, there were no senior African American women in the Coast Guard at that point in time. So I really couldn't see what I wanted to be".

In 2016, Merchant took command of Marine Safety Unit Chicago, becoming the first African-American woman to command a Prevention/Marine Safety Unit/Office in the Coast Guard. And was subsequently the commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Personnel Service Center.

In 2024 she became the first female African-American to be appointed rear admiral lower half in Coast Guard history.

Awards

In 2018, Merchant was awarded the Captain David H. Jarvis Inspirational Leadership Award, making her the first African-American woman to be given this award.

On Veterans Day in 2021, Merchant received a Women in Service award from the American Red Cross.

Military awards and decorations

Prevention Operations Ashore Insignia
Command Ashore Pin
Commandant Staff Badge
  Legion of Meritwith 2 Gold Stars
  Meritorious Service Medal  Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Gold Stars and an Operational Device
  Coast Guard Commendation Medal with 1 Silver Star and an Operational Device
  Coast Guard Achievement Medal with 2 Gold Stars and an Operational Device
  Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon with 3 Gold Stars and an Operational Device
  Presidential Unit Citation with Hurricane Device
  DHS Outstanding Unit Award
  Coast Guard Unit Commendation with Operational Device
  Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with 4 Gold Stars and an Operational Device
  Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation with 3 Gold Stars and an Operational Device
  National Defense Service Medal
  Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  Armed Forces Service Medal
  Humanitarian Service Medal with bronze service star
  Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars
Transportation 9-11 Ribbon
  Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon with 3 bronze service stars
  Coast Guard Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon
  Coast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon

Role model

One of Merchant's role models and mentors was Dr Olivia Hooker, who was the first African American woman to join the U.S. Coast Guard. Dr. Hooker joined the Coast Guard during World War II and the galley on the Coast Guard's Staten Island, New York base is named after her.

References

  1. 1 2 U S Coast Guard (April 2026). "U S Coast Guard East District Staff". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ↑ "Coast Guard Alumni Serve Ships and Shores". GW Today. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Captain Zeita Merchant" (PDF). U.S. Coast Guard. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "Veterans Day: These women are blazing a trail as officers in the U.S. Coast Guard". ABC7 New York. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Notable-People/Minorities/African-Americans/History-Chronology/#:~:text=The%20Coast%20Guard%20awarded%20the,female%20CMC%20Area%20Gold%20Badge.
  6. ↑ "Rear Adm. Zeita Merchant, the U.S. Coast Guard's Newest Admiral". Coast Guard Foundation.
  7. ↑ "Women on the Waterfront: Captain Zeita Merchant". Waterfront Alliance. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  8. ↑ "Black History Month: Coast Guard Captain Zeita Merchant Keeps New Yorkers Safe While Blazing New Trails - CBS New York". www.cbsnews.com. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2023.