New London— Rear Adm. Sandra L. Stosz will become the first woman to lead a military service academy when she becomes the superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy this summer.

The service announced today that Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert J. Papp, Jr. selected Stosz, the current director of reserve and leadership, to replace current superintendent Rear Adm. J. Scott Burhoe when he retires.

"Rear Adm. Stosz has dedicated her career to developing professional Coast Guard men and women," Papp said in a statement. "We are also extremely proud to be the first service with a woman at the helm of our academy."

In her current position, Stosz is responsible for developing policies to recruit, train and support over 8,000 Coast Guard reservists. She has also commanded the Coast Guard's only recruit training center in Cape May, N.J.

She will be the first and only female commander to head any of the nation's five military academies. She is currently a member of the academy's Board of Trustees and the chairwoman of the commandant's Leadership Advisory Council.

"I am humbled by the prospect of taking over such an important position in our service and honored to be following Rear Adm. Burhoe," said Stosz, who graduated from the academy in 1982 with a bachelor of science degree in government.

Burhoe called Stosz an excellent choice to succeed him. He plans to retire July 1.

j.mcdermott@theday.com