Courtney ann Sergent
Courtney Ann Sergent is a Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard and currently serves as Sector Commander at U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, where she leads operations across Florida’s west coast. In this role, she oversees a workforce of approximately 1,200 active duty members, reservists, civilians, and auxiliary personnel, directing all mission areas including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, pollution response, coastal security, and marine safety inspections. Her command represents the culmination of more than two decades of distinguished service and leadership within one of the nation’s most critical maritime organizations.
Throughout her career, Captain Sergent has held a series of progressively senior leadership roles across the United States, including Deputy Sector Commander for U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina and Chief of Response for the same command. Her experience also includes serving as Chief of Enforcement in Mobile, Alabama; Domestic Fisheries Section Chief in Alaska; Command Duty Officer in Puget Sound; and a maritime law enforcement policy expert at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Known for her operational expertise and steady leadership in high-risk environments, she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to mission excellence, team development, and public service.
Captain Sergent holds a Master of Marine Affairs from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in Marine and Environmental Science from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Originally inspired to join the Coast Guard through a desire for education and service, she built a career driven by purpose and passion for the organization’s mission. She is widely respected for her ability to lead with compassion and resilience, particularly in the most challenging moments, including search and rescue operations that deeply impact the communities she serves.
• Incident Command System Qualifications
• Emergency Management Qualifications
• University of Washington
• US Coast Guard Academy
• Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say one, I've had amazing mentors and an amazing support system with family and my spouse - especially when you're in the military, moving all the time, having their support is huge. But I've also always believed in doing what scares you. I've always kind of felt like if something made me a little nervous, a goal or an achievement or a position made me a little nervous, then I felt like I should probably do it. Because I never wanted to be comfortable, I always wanted to be having the most value and impact that I could, so if I ever got too comfortable, I felt like alright, it's time for the next thing. I always have a goal to work towards, and obviously legally, but do what scares you and always have a goal to work towards.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I would say err on the side of the person, so err on the side of people. In the military especially, we're constantly evaluated, we're working towards promotions, we're trying to make ourselves more competitive against peers, and also holding people accountable to our regulations and policies and their actions and performance. But the best advice I ever received from one of my biggest mentors was, yes, we have a code, but err on the side of the person, because you just never know what they're going through. So, putting the people first, and making sure they have what they need to succeed, and then, yes, if you need to hold them accountable later, then that's something that we will always do. But whether it's the public that you're serving, whether it's law enforcement, err on the side of the person, because 99% of them are trying to do the right thing.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say, go for what you want. I think a lot of times we tell ourselves no before we even ask, so I would just say, you know, go for what you want, ask the questions, ask for the opportunities, and let them tell you no instead of telling yourself no.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Some of the biggest challenges I think are that we operate in a very risky field in the Coast Guard with our missions. Making sure that we're doing things safely, but we're also risking our lives, so sometimes that is tough. That's a challenge to talk to families and talk about searching for their loved ones. We do a great job and we find and save a lot of folks, but when we can't, that's probably one of the biggest challenges, and something that I hold very near and dear to me is helping people through those tragedies when their loved ones don't come home.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, for sure, and accountability are big for me. And then, just making others better, I think, is something I've always been passionate about, so helping others achieve their goals, whether it's in the Coast Guard or not. I love writing letters of recommendation and helping people kind of strive for what they dream of being.