Martha LaGuardia-Kotite

About Martha LaGuardia-Kotite

Martha J. LaGuardia-Kotite is a U.S. Coast Guard reserve officer, author and freelance journalist.


Recent Posts By the Author


Essay: The Coast Guard Legends of SOUTHCOM

Essay: The Coast Guard Legends of SOUTHCOM

Coast Guard Cutter Stratton. US Coast Guard Photo

Coast Guard Cutter Stratton. US Coast Guard Photo

On a warm July day in 2014, U.S. Coast Guard deck hands took in the mooring lines at 0930 on board USCGC Stratton, one of the Service’s newest Legend-class national security cutters.

Stratton slowly drifted away from the San Diego pier while a show-stopping three short blasts sounded from the ship’s whistle, alerting nearby maritime traffic that the 418-foot steel vessel was backing out. The engines shifted, increasing speed ahead. Stratton was outbound for sea. Read More