Coast Guard Lieutenant Recipient of First Legendary Service Award

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Online has named U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Laura McDonald as the recipient of the first UA Online Legendary Service Award.

The award honors a past or present military service member who has demonstrated legendary service to their country and community.  

As the award winner, McDonald will receive a tuition grant for UA Online and will be honored during the Nov. 13 Alabama-New Mexico State football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. 

Originally from Riverside, California, McDonald is currently a marine inspector and investigator stationed in Yorktown, Virginia. She shares her knowledge with apprentice marine inspectors and investigators as a teacher at the Coast Guard’s Yorktown Training Center. McDonald is currently earning her master’s in communication studies from UA Online. 

“If I continue to move up into the senior ranks, communication is going to serve me well,” McDonald said. “I’m excited to apply what I learn through this degree to improve the organization. My whole job is really communicating during inspections, investigations and to students, so this degree program felt like a natural fit.” 

In the past three years as a marine inspector and investigator, McDonald has overseen more than 150 commercial vessel inspections and 245 marine casualty investigations. She has also managed more than 500 miles of commercially navigable waters and facilitated the safe movement of $42 billion in commerce.  

Juggling a military career with a family and a degree program is challenging, but McDonald said her UA Online professors have been responsive and understanding. Her leaders in the Coast Guard have also been supportive of her professional growth. 

“It’s not a taboo thing to be typing away at a paper between work commitments, because they want to see you seeking out education and improving yourself,” she said. “That support system from all ends is the foundation for me being able to do this.” 

McDonald encourages other service members interested in continuing their education not to wait for the perfect moment, but to dive in and get started. 

“My advice is always, ‘Don’t wait for everything in your life to be what you define as “perfect” or “perfect timing” to start a family, start school.’ If you’re waiting for whatever you define as the perfect element, just do it. Live life and don’t let life keep you from living.”