Rear Admiral Zeita Merchant

Now this name might sound familiar if you have been on our website before. Zeita Merchant has worked with harbor school and its community, supporting and educating our students.

Education

In 1994 Zeita Merchant graduated from Lanier High School. Merchant then went on to attend an outstanding total of colleges, including;

  • Tougaloo College from 1994 to 1998, receiving a Bachelor of Science, Biology

  • The National Graduate School of Quality Management from 2003 to 2004, receiving a Master of Science, Quality System Management 

  • The George Washington University from 2008 to 2010 receiving a Master of Public Administration, Environmental and Emergency Managements 

  • National Graduate School of Quality Management from 2009 to 2011 receiving a Doctor of Business Administration, Quality Systems management

  • Massachusetts Institute Of Technology from 2015 to 2016  being selected as a Seminar XXI Fellow, National Security and Foreign policy 

  • Harvard University  from 2019 to 2020 being selected as a National Security Fellow, National Security Policy Studies

Career

Over the years she has participated in many professions within the maritime industry including work as a Captain, Executive Officer of Marine Safety, Chief of Port Operations, Marine Inspector and Port Operations Officer. However, despite her extensive work in the maritime industry, she originally joined the Coast Guard to pay for medical school. Once in the Coast Guard she saw the impact she was making and would be able to make, influencing her decision to stay. Utilizing the skills she gained through her previous experiences and connections she built throughout the maritime industry she was able to receive a promotion to Rear Admiral Zeita Merchant.

On April 22nd, 2024 at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City she was promoted from Commander Zeita Merchant to Rear Admiral Zeita Merchant. I was lucky enough to be a part of this event and experience her promotion live. At the theater  Admiral Merchant was surrounded by colleagues and loved ones. The compassion and support present in the room displayed not only that she was dedicated to her work but to her loved ones and the community as well. A notable member in attendance was Admiral Linda Fagan, the first female to be in charge of a military branch. Admiral Linda Fagan was also the Captain of the Port of New York in 2010, the year when New York Harbor School first relocated to Governors Island, and worked to ensure our community had a proper relationship with the Coast Guard. Additionally present in the theater were Senior Coast Guard leaders including Rear Admiral John Mauger, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Heath Jones. The sheer number of individuals in attendance, around a thousand, not only shows the support for Admiral Merchant, but also the significance of her promotion. Admiral Merchant is the first African American woman to achieve the rank of Rear Admiral in all 233 years of the Coast Guard’s existence.

In June of 2024 in Washington, D.C. Zeita Merchant officially stepped into the duties as Rear Admiral and began her service. In her previous position as Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York and Captain of the Port, she monitored the safety and sustainability of New York's marine transportation system. While in her new role as Rear Admiral and Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Personnel Service Center in Washington, D.C. Admiral Merchant is focused on human resources, recruiting, assigning, and retention of members of the Coast Guard. In this position she has the ability to assign jobs within the Coast Guard and review the skill sets of working personnel. This position additionally enables her to concentrate on fighting against the current low recruitment within military positions, something she feels is vital. 

Rear Admiral Merchant can be seen as an inspiration for any young women or African Americans interested in becoming involved in the military, maritime, or any industry. Merchant’s groundbreaking success goes to show that with hard work and commitment it is possible to succeed in any field despite possible obstacles. She additionally displays the importance of becoming involved in new experiences, like the maritime industry, because you never know what may spark your interest. 

By Carmen A. Falzano

https://www.uscg.mil/Biographies/Display/Article/3808717/rear-admiral-zeita-merchant/


https://coastguardfoundation.org/news/rear-adm-zeita-merchant-the-u-s-coast-guards-newest-admiral


https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2024/02/15/jackson-woman-zeita-merchant-is-highest-ranking-black-woman-in-coast-guards-history-ms/72577423007/


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