Leah Cole

CDR Cole earned her Commission and Bachelor of Science in Government-International Affairs from the US Coast Guard Academy in 2004. She holds a Master of Science in Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies, as well as a graduate certificate in Human Performance Technology from Florida State University.

She has deployed globally, leading humanitarian and lifesaving response operations, maritime governance, defense operations,
counter-drug & alien migration interdiction operations, and Illegal Unreported Undetected Fisheries law enforcement actions. Her sea-going operational assignments includes Coast Guard Cutters GALLATIN, METOMPKIN, KODIAK ISLAND, TAMPA and BERTHOLF. She has been formally recognized for her operational excellence by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director, with the United States Interdiction Committee Award for record setting work to disrupt the trafficking of drugs through multi-jurisdictional collaboration between law enforcement task forces. CDR Cole has also received the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Award. Under her leadership, her vessel was recognized at both the 2024 Surface Navy Symposium with the Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award for exceptional performance and 2024 Society for Naval Engineers Awards for excellence in naval engineering and operational readiness with the Rear Admiral R. S. Lucas Plaque.

CDR Cole’s shore and special assignments include Executive Assistant to Commander Atlantic Area the Coast Guard’s senior most operational commander in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean, Military Fellow at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies where she was named the 2017 Alumnus of the Year for her historic security cooperation contributions, partnerships, and significant publications. Chief, Response Operations Planning at Pacific Area, generating the services first 7th Fleet WESTPAC deployments and the creator of Operation BLUE PACIFIC, solidifying the Coast Guard’s vital role and impact across the Indo-Pacific. J35 Future Operations, Oceania Chief, Joint Inter-Agency Task Force at US Indo-Pacific Command, and Instructor at the Coast Guard’s Leadership Development Center where she earned professional certification as a Master Training Specialist.

In her off-duty time, she completed Joint Professional Military Education (JPME 1 & 2) at the US Naval War College and accomplished a Senior Executive Fellowship at the College of William & Mary’s Whole of Government Center for Excellence, completing post-graduate education in International Strategic Studies and thesis in Navigating Great Power Competition. She holds Executive Coaching certification, certificate in Non-Profit Stewardship from Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University and is a founder and leader in the Non-Profit sector for education, equity, and community initiatives. For her outstanding community partnership, she was the recipient of the Partnership in Education Award for the Coast Guard. She is a founding member of the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI), mentor and devoted champion of inclusion.

CDR Cole was awarded with the service’s prestigious John G. Witherspoon Inspirational Leadership Award, wears the Permanent Cutterman Insignia and both the Defense and Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medals. Her proudest achievement is the balancing of her career with a healthy and loving marriage and family. She is accompanied in Massachusetts by her husband Rob, daughter Harper (9), and son Ethan (4).