Brenda Kerr is a 1991 graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the USCGA and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois.  She is a Professional Engineer in Virginia and Maryland as well as a Project Management Professional.  She has served on 3 Coast Guard Cutters earning her Cutterman’s Pin.  She went on to serve in several engineering and logistics positions during her 27 year career.  Brenda is a contingency logistics subject matter expert with experience leading during Hurricane Katrina, Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Haiti Earthquake as well as numerous other national disasters.  Most recently she was the Commanding Officer at Base Portsmouth, VA until 2018.

During her long career she has been active in women’s leadership and mentoring both in the military and the private sector.  For the last 3 years Brenda has been a women’s engineering mentor at Tidewater Community College and Old Dominion University.  She has been an instructor in varied contingency logistics courses for the US Coast Guard, FEMA and Army Logistics University guiding new supervisors through senior managers on how to assess risk and address stressful situations.

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