Professional Bio
CAPT Rodriguez serves as Field Commander for the Coast Guard in Lake Charles, LA executing Captain of the Port, Officer in Charge Marine Inspections, Federal On-Scene Coordinator & Federal Maritime Security Coordinator authorities. Previous tours include Chief of Prevention at Sector Houston, Commanding Officer MSU Baton Rouge, Chief of Investigations Sector Baltimore, & HQ staff tours. She is a certified Maritime Port Executive & holds a BA from JMU & MPA from The George Washington University.
JMU Major / Year Graduated
Anthropology, 1998 graduate
Why did you choose JMU?
It’s hard to explain, but from the first moment I stepped foot on the JMU campus I just KNEW I belonged there. The campus was beautiful, nestled in the Shenandoah with the Blue Ridge Mountains. I just fell in love with it. I was in my high school marching band at the time and loved seeing the JMU Marching Royal Dukes. I knew I wanted to be an MRD. I’m glad I went to JMU. I made lifelong friends and have great memories from there.
How did your degree from JMU lead you to where you are today?
My BA is in Anthropology/Archaeology & it was very hard to find a job upon graduation! I couldn’t even get a low-level job cataloguing bones after I graduated. Not knowing what to do , I went to the Coast Guard because my dad was in the Coast Guard. When the Coast Guard asked what use they had for an anthropologist I explained that my skills of knowing how to understand different cultures was important to the Coast Guard’s international & humanitarian mission set. They must have believed me!
What does working for the Federal Government community mean to you?
Not long after I joined, 9/11 happened. 9/11 changed so much about us as a country, and the Coast Guard, being the smallest of the armed services, was able to adjust quickly, while staying grounded to its core identity. I realized how much I loved my job. It’s rewarding and I feel I am making a difference. I found a real purpose in a job that plays upon my strengths and challenged me to be more than I was. In 22 years I’ve held some amazing jobs and done things I’ve never thought possible.
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