Denise Krepp

K. Denise Rucker Krepp is a former Maritime Administration Chief Counsel. Krepp started her federal career as a Coast Guard officer. She helped create the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. The views expressed in the article are solely the author’s.

The U.S. Coast Guard's headquarters campus in Washington, D.C. Unlike the other armed forces, the service has no civilian leader (USCG file image)

Congress Considers Law to Create Secretary of the Coast Guard

Published Apr 3, 2025 7:01 PM by Denise Krepp

Posted in: Government

Earlier this week, Senator Rick Scott introduced the Coast Guard Improvement Act, a bill that establishes the Secretary...

A Five-Decade Retrospective on Coast Guard SASH Reform

Published Oct 14, 2024 12:36 PM by Denise Krepp

Posted in: Government

To better understand the history of sexual assault in the Coast Guard, I’ve spent the past couple of months creati...

We Need a #MeToo Maritime Library

Published May 14, 2024 9:23 PM by Denise Krepp

Posted in: Government

My goal in 2024 is to build a #MeToo Maritime Library. To that end, I contacted the Maritime Administration last mo...

Why MARAD Needs to Preserve the History of SASH Abuses in Maritime

Published Apr 7, 2024 12:02 PM by Denise Krepp

Posted in: Government

I’m a maritime #MeToo trailblazer, and I've asked the Maritime Administration to create a section on its websi...

U.S. Coast Guard headquarters, Washington, D.C. (USCG file image)

Combatting Sexual Assault in the Coast Guard: A Decade of Reflection

Published Feb 4, 2024 12:51 PM by Denise Krepp

Posted in: Government

Ten years ago I wrote an essay in Maritime Executive about my testimony before a Congressionally mandated panel examinin...

Op-Ed: US Coast Guard Must Prosecute Former Leaders Who Covered Up Abuse

Published Dec 10, 2023 4:06 PM by Denise Krepp

Posted in: Government

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is holding a hearing this Tuesday regarding sexual harassment and...

Op-Ed: Time to Investigate SASH Cover-Up at U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Published Jul 2, 2023 4:14 PM by Denise Krepp

Posted in: Government

In 2014, I testified twice before a Congressionally mandated panel on military sexual assault. I testified about the problems I&rs...

#MeToo in Maritime: Next Steps to Take to Stop SASH at Sea

Published May 22, 2023 3:35 PM by Denise Krepp

Posted in: Government

We’re all blessed with a voice and today I’m using my voice to talk about sexual assault and sexual harassment in the...

Remembering Rep. Jolene Unsoeld, Maritime Trailblazer

Published Dec 5, 2021 11:44 PM by Denise Krepp

Posted in: Government

Last week, Rep. Jolene Unsoeld died at the age of 89. She served in Congress from 1989-1995, and she authored bipartisan legislati...

Op-Ed: A Path Forward for Reforming USMMA's SASH Response

Published Nov 29, 2021 9:35 PM by Denise Krepp

Posted in: Government

In 2011, I asked for a Department of Transportation Inspector General investigation into at-school and Sea Year sexual assaults ag...