Shannon Norenberg, the head of sexual assault prevention at the US Coast Guard Academy, has resigned from her position and issued a public apology to survivors after revealing that top leaders directed her to lie to sexual assault victims and Congress. She was unknowingly used as part of a cover-up of decades of abuse. Norenberg discovered old records showing how she was misled by officials as part of Operation Fouled Anchor, a probe into a history of sexual assault coverups that CNN exposed last summer. She was instructed to mislead victims about Congress’ awareness of the operation, among other directives.
The Coast Guard has come under scrutiny for its handling of sexual misconduct cases, leading to pressure on the agency’s first female commandant, Adm. Linda Fagan. Recent controversies have highlighted ongoing issues of sexual misconduct within the Coast Guard, beyond just the academy. Anonymous social media accounts have exposed mishandling and cover-ups of sexual assault cases, leading to increased scrutiny from lawmakers. Promotions of Coast Guard officers have been withdrawn due to previous accusations of sexual misconduct, and investigations have been initiated into allegations of harassment and assault.
As senators express frustration with the Coast Guard’s response to the scandal, Adm. Fagan has been accused of evading congressional oversight and failing to hold accountable those responsible for covering up misconduct. Norenberg’s allegations have been shared with senators and are expected to be a topic of discussion at an upcoming congressional hearing. Victims of sexual assault within the Coast Guard have expressed disappointment with how their cases have been handled and feel forgotten after being asked to share their trauma as part of investigations.
Norenberg’s role in Operation Fouled Anchor led her to question her involvement in the cover-up and ultimately resign from her position. She discovered documents confirming that her efforts were part of an organized plan to protect the Coast Guard’s reputation rather than help victims rebuild their lives. Despite her efforts to improve the culture around sexual assault prevention at the academy, Norenberg was troubled by the lack of consequences for perpetrators and the retaliation faced by victims. She hopes that coming forward with her concerns will prompt change within the Coast Guard.
After resigning, Norenberg plans to go public with her concerns and start a YouTube channel where she will interview survivors of military sexual assault. She hopes that by sharing their stories and experiences, the Coast Guard will be forced to acknowledge and address the issues of sexual misconduct within the organization. Norenberg’s decision to speak out comes after seeing a wave of social media posts from current and former Coast Guard members detailing misconduct and betrayal by the organization, giving her hope that change is possible. She believes that now is the time for survivors to be heard and for the Coast Guard to listen and take action.
