(SACRAMENTO) – Today at a ceremony at the State Capitol, Assemblymember Timothy S. Grayson (D-Concord) named retired U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Jody Breckenridge as the 14th Assembly District’s Veteran of the Year.
“Vice Admiral Breckenridge honorably served our country for nearly 35 years as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, ensuring and protecting the safety and security of America’s ports and waterways,” said Assemblymember Grayson. “Her passion for public service has continued after her retirement as she dedicates much of her time to giving back to veterans, active duty service members and their families. Because of her remarkable service to our country and community, I am proud to recognize her as our Veteran of the Year.”
Upon receiving her award from Assemblymember Grayson, Vice Admiral Breckenridge said, “I am honored and humbled to be named Veteran of the Year. Every day I see the wonderful work so many veterans do to make a difference in our communities, state, and nation. I love the work I do and am privileged to serve with other veterans, retirees, and business representatives.”
During her career of service with the Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Breckenridge served as Commander of the Pacific Area and Defense Forces West, with responsibility for all Coast Guard operations across 73 million square miles of the Pacific, Arctic, and Antarctic Oceans. Her other flag assignments included Director of Strategic Transformation, where she guided the largest business practice and organizational change in the modern history of the Coast Guard.
Since her retirement from the Coast Guard in 2010, Vice Admiral Breckenridge has served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the San Francisco Water Emergency Transportation Authority, an operational ferry system serving the Bay Area and the only public transportation service in California with a legislatively-mandated disaster response role. Breckenridge also serves as Vice Chair of the San Francisco Fleet Week Association, Vice Chair of the Governor’s Military Council, and as a board member of several other military and veterans’ organizations.
Vice Admiral Breckenridge holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Virginia Tech University, a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Maryland, and a master’s degree in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. She is married with four children and lives in Pleasant Hill.
Tim Grayson represents the 14th Assembly District that includes the communities of Benicia, Concord, Clayton, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Vallejo, Pittsburg and Walnut Creek. For more information please visit the Assemblymember’s website, www.assembly.ca.gov/a14.