BP Fossella Honors Captain Zeita Merchant for Historic Accomplishments in US Coast Guard
Editor’s Note: The US Coast Guard’s biographical statement about Captain Merchant says:
“Captain Zeita Merchant assumed command in May 2021, and directs all Coast Guard missions in the Port of New York and New Jersey. She is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of one of the Nation’s busiest and most economically important port complexes. Sector New York’s area of responsibility spans over 6,000 square miles, from 200 miles offshore and inland to Albany, NY, and includes facilities and waterways moving hundreds of billions of dollars in cargo and tens of millions of passengers annually.
“Prior to joining Sector New York as Deputy Sector Commander in 2020, Captain Merchant was a National Security Fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
“Enjoying over 24 years of active duty service, Captain Merchant is a recognized authority in maritime safety and security, and crisis management. She has served in a variety of assignments at the operational and executive levels” and has been certified as one of the Coast Guard’s top Emergency Managers leading large-scale, multi-jurisdictional incident responses across the Nation.”
Captain Merchant was also a Girl Scout, and they did a bio of her, the full text of which can be found here. Following is an excerpt in italics:
Zeita Merchant majored in biology at Tougaloo College in Mississippi, sure she would be heading to medical school right after graduation.
But then she passed a Coast Guard booth set up on campus.
“Something changed that day,” recalls Zeita, now 43. “I had been contemplating how I was going to be able to pay my way through medical school, and I was visualizing the debt adding up, so I decided to talk to the recruiter.”…
In 1997, Zeita joined the Coast Guard, and went on to be deployed as a commander in Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and later in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
“Those deployments really affected me,” she says. “Going to these places and seeing the damage and the struggle that the people were going through was tough,” Zeita reflects. “But what I saw was how resilient the people were. Even though their homes were flooded, they insisted on cooking food for us, and making sure we had what we needed. I’ll never forget it.”
Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito Fossella congratulated Captain Zeita Merchant for her historic accomplishments with the U.S. Coast Guard at a press conference at Borough Hall on Friday.
You can see the video here
Captain Merchant, who assumed command of Sector New York in May 2021, will attain the rank of Rear Admiral in April, thus becoming the highest-ranking African American woman in Coast Guard history. Proceeding from her promotion, she will assume a new post in Washington, D.C.
“Here we are to thank and to wish well to a woman who will be the highest-ranking African American Woman in the Coast Guard in its 233-year history,” said Borough President Fossella, commencing the day’s celebration.
“Every once in a while, people might get down, people get gloom and doom, and then along come people like Captain Merchant to remind us that we live in the greatest country in the world,” the Borough President said. “And we are the greatest country in the world because of the willingness of you all to sacrifice. So, on behalf of my family and the 500,000 people of Staten Island, we say thank God you’re here, and we wish you the very best.”
Joining in the celebration of Captain Merchant’s accomplishments were numerous command staff from Sector New York. Deputy Sector Commander Jonathan Andrechik, who will be elevated to Commander of Sector New York following the Changing of Command and Captain Merchant’s ascension, offered his own congratulations.
Commander Andrechik said, “On behalf of all of us at Coast Guard Sector New York, we could not be prouder of Captain Merchant and her accomplishment. It’s not only a significant day for us who wear the uniform here in Staten Island, but it’s a historic day for our entire service as we prepare to witness Captain Merchant’s promotion in just a couple months.”
During her tenure as Commander of Sector New York and Captain of the Port, Captain Merchant has helped facilitate operations in the waters of New York and New Jersey and keep them safe for cargo and transit. At each step of her 27-year career, which involves numerous posts across the country, she broke barriers for women in the Coast Guard.
Captain Merchant humbly reflected about her long and storied career, attributing her success to the men and women with whom she was surrounded.
“While this is historic, and I will soon be the first African American female to wear a star, it may be for me, but it is not about me,” said Captain Merchant. “The journey that I’ve had has been one of sacrifice, perseverance, and hard work. But I could not have gotten here without the people, from the day I walked in the door in my first unit, or the day that I started boot camp, that embraced me and made sure that the Coast Guard was where I wanted to be and should be.”
Borough President Fossella and Captain Merchant were also joined by Sector New York Response Department Commander Michael Persun, Prevention Department Commander Dan McQuate, Logistics Department Commander Jeff Barnum, and Chief of the Vessel Inspections Division Commander Staci Weist.
To honor Captain Merchant for her service and historic accomplishments, Borough President Fossella issued her a proclamation declaring February 2nd “Captain Zeita Merchant Day” on Staten Island.
“I have gotten to know her over the last couple of years,” said Borough President Fossella. “She is a wonderful person. She cares deeply about these men and women in her Sector, she cares deeply about her country, and she cares deeply about New York and Staten Island. She will now assume the rank of Rear Admiral. We will miss you and you should know that you will always have a home here. Our loss is Washington’s gain.”
Banner Image: Captain Zeita Merchant. Image Credit – General Donald Campbell
BP Vito Fossella
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government. The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities. In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough. As the chair of the Borough Board, the Borough President leads Staten Island’s City Council delegation and Community Board chairs in the process of reviewing and approving the transfer of public properties to private use. The Borough President’s Office houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses. The Borough President monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, and acts as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.