Originally posted by Pam Moore, School of Government, September 9, 2026
Few people can say they’re skilled helicopter pilots. Fewer still can say they’ve carried out high-stakes search-and-rescue missions—or coordinated them.
Greg Waugh (MPA ’22) can say all of that. And on August 14, 2026, he added another accomplishment: taking command of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Ventura.
His Coast Guard career gave him the technical skills and experience the role requires. But Commander Waugh credits UNC’s MPA program with giving him the organizational and leadership capabilities to meet the demands of a senior Coast Guard command position.
From Pilot to Leader
At 12, Waugh set his sights on becoming a pilot. “I remember seeing airplanes and helicopters flying around and decided that was something I wanted to do,” he recalled.
As an undergraduate at the Coast Guard Academy, he “fell in love with the Coast Guard’s missions,” he said. Once he graduated, he was commissioned as an officer. Two years later, he trained as a helicopter pilot, which qualified to fly search and rescue missions.
Waugh continued moving up the ranks, with a four-year stint on a counter-narcotics squadron, a role as executive assistant to an admiral, and later positions as operations officer and chief pilot at the Coast Guard’s San Diego air station.
As he advanced, Waugh knew he wanted to broaden his expertise beyond aviation, but to do that, he needed a graduate degree. While some of his peers pursued an MBA or an advanced engineering degree, an MPA was the clear choice for Waugh. “I knew it would apply both to my Coast Guard career as well as my potential future in government or nonprofit sectors.”
Choosing UNC
For Waugh, coming to UNC was a no-brainer. The university’s reputation was a draw, as was the fact that UNC was “clearly a military-friendly school,” he said. When researching his options, UNC also made clear that his tuition would be fully covered under the GI Bill.
UNC’s MPA program stood out for another reason: It was one of the few virtual programs with a live component. “I actually wanted to meet and connect with my cohort. With many programs, you write a check, submit some assignments, and you get a degree, but I was looking for more than that.”
More Than a Degree
UNC gave Waugh everything he came for—and more, including the flexibility to continue serving the military. “Occasionally I had to miss a class or needed to extend a deadline due to the Coast Guard, and everyone was super understanding and supportive of that.”
Just as importantly, multi-day on-campus intensives gave him the connection he had been looking for. During visits to Chapel Hill, Waugh met faculty members, heard guest lectures, and bonded with classmates outside the classroom—including over Coach K’s last regular-season Duke game, which he and members of his cohort watched together on Franklin Street. Those experiences deepened both his connection to the program and his commitment to public service.
Landon Lynch (MPA ’22), a Coast Guard Employee and Labor and Employee Relations Specialist and a classmate and friend of Waugh sees that commitment in Waugh’s career. At a challenging moment for public servants, Lynch said, Waugh has shown “the adaptability and the steadfast nature to stay and to want to rise and to want to be a leader.”
The relationships Waugh formed at UNC have also lasted well beyond graduation. He remains part of a group chat with classmates working across a range of industries, including Lynch, where they regularly turn to one another for professional advice and support.
Building the Skills to Lead
Courses in professional communication and mediation helped him speak and write more effectively, navigate conflict, and empower others. “I developed the skills to help people resolve their differences and move forward without having to file formal complaints,” he said.
The program also changed the way Waugh thinks about leadership. “Giving people, especially the younger generation, an opportunity to speak their mind, can create opportunities for growth.” Recalling a time when one of his direct reports shared his perspective on a challenging situation, Waugh said, “it was almost like a light switch. Now he’s performing at a high level.”
Meanwhile, the data analysis skills Waugh honed in the MPA sharpened his ability to leverage metrics to better serve the Coast Guard’s objectives. “As a senior officer I may need X, Y, or Z, for my air station. Being able to use data to explain the ‘why’ to senior leadership is a huge asset.”
Taking Command
Waugh was appointed to lead Air Station Ventura earlier this year by the Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Southwest District (covering California, Arizona, Nevada). Now, Waugh is responsible for the entire operation.
As air station commander, Waugh’s responsibilities are vast. His previous roles centered on carrying out search-and-rescue missions and, later, directing them.
“I’m responsible for the entire air station: three helicopters, 120 people, a $1.5 million budget,” said Waugh. “If things go south, the questions will be asked not of individuals but of the commanding officer.”
While Waugh acknowledges the pressures of the position, he relishes the opportunity to serve the members under his command. “It’s on me to give my team everything they need to complete their mission, plus the resources to advance their careers and take care of themselves and their families.”
Ultimately, Waugh hopes to create a culture where his team can see and pursue their own paths to leadership. “I want people, particularly the pilots, to want my job in the future,” said Waugh. “I want the ‘coasties’ under me to succeed. I want to promote a culture where they can achieve their personal and professional goals.”
Photographed above from left to right: Commander Amanda G. Sardone, Rear Admiral Jeffery W. Novak, Commander Gregory C. Waugh
Join us virtually for the 2026 Deil S. Wright Public Service Forum. Tied to the this year’s Immersion, “Meeting the Need While Changing the System,” will feature a conversation with Amy Beros, President and CEO of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC and Norbert Wilson, Director, Duke World Food Policy Center; Professor of Public Policy; Professor of Food, Economics & Community at Duke Divinity School.
Join students, alumni, faculty, staff, friends, and families as we kick off the academic year at the annual kickoff picnic hosted by the UNC MPA alumni association!
(Re)Connect with MPA alumni, students, and staff for drinks, lite bites, and great conversation in Asheville, NC at a UNC MPA Happy Hour Hub sponsored by Timmons Group.
When: Thursday, June 25, 2026, 5-8pm
Where: RAD Brewing Company – 13 Mystery St., Asheville, NC 28801 (map)
UNC MPA would like to thank Timmons Group for their sponsorship of this event!
The 2024 recipient of a scholarship honoring Carolina’s first Black graduate is building a legacy for her daughter.
Originally posted by Terzah Dyer, University Development, Thursday, April 30th, 2026
“I saw myself in Harvey Beech,” said Angelica Foster ’25 (MPA). “He was a bold person and so am I.”
Foster’s record of service and dedication to the public interest was recognized with the prestigious Harvey Beech scholarship in 2024. She graduated from the Master of Public Administration program at the UNC School of Government in December 2025 and will be participating in the 2026 Spring Commencement.
When Harvey Elliott Beech ’52, the first Black student to graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill, came to the UNC School of Law, he wasn’t welcome in many places — not in Steele dorm, not in the dining hall and not even at the pool. Beech challenged the way things were simply by existing in spaces Black students weren’t allowed to be in.
That boldness is what drove Foster to Carolina.
She recalls reading about a moment when Beech attended a football game and insisted on sitting wherever he chose.
“The newspapers printed it as if to say Harvey Beech cursed out the chancellor,” Foster said. “But he said, ‘I didn’t. I just said I would sit any damn place I wish.’ That showed me how bold he was — when others were afraid, he was speaking up. And that’s who I am.”
Like Beech, Foster has built her life around speaking up for others, especially when it matters most.
After graduating from UNC Charlotte in 2015 with a degree in criminal justice, Foster went on to serve in the North Carolina Guardian ad Litem program, where she advocated for abused and neglected children and led statewide efforts to strengthen outcomes for youth and families involved in the court system.
“I am often the person who says things that people don’t want to hear, which is why it’s easy for me to testify in court on behalf of kids and families,” Foster said.
That conviction is deeply personal. At just 9 years old, Foster testified in chambers about the abuse she and her sister were experiencing.
“I was living in fear, and that experience shaped my purpose, and that led me to not caring if I am well liked, especially in the courtroom,” she said. “Now I don’t shy away from difficult conversations. I advocate for what is right to protect the children I serve,” she said.
Foster says her daughter is the heart of her decision to come to Carolina. (Submitted photo)
Faith and family ultimately guided Foster’s decision to come to Carolina for graduate school.
“I prayed and heard God say, ‘Do the things you thought you could never do,’” Foster said. “I told myself I am doing this for my daughter and building a Carolina legacy for my family, ensuring that she will grow up never thinking Carolina isn’t for her because of the color of her skin.”
Not only was Foster admitted into the MPA program in the UNC School of Government, she was also the only graduate student to win a Beech scholarship.
In the MPA program, Foster found more than coursework — she found community. Professors stayed after class to continue conversations, creating space for her to show up fully as herself and grow as a leader.
Today, Foster runs her consulting firm Angelic Impact Consulting LLC, a trauma-informed consulting firm focused on strengthening outcomes for children, families and the professionals who serve them.
Looking ahead, Foster is committed to advancing systemic change within child welfare and public service systems, ensuring both families and frontline professionals are supported to thrive.
But at the core of her work is something simpler: legacy.
“I didn’t have that legacy started for me,” Foster said, “so I wanted to create that legacy for my daughter.”
Read more about Angelica Foster.
(Re)Connect with MPA alumni, students, and staff for drinks, lite bites, and great conversation in Charlotte, NC at a UNC MPA Happy Hour Hub.
When: Tuesday, April 28
Where: Armored Cow Brewing, 8821 JW Clay Blvd #1, Charlotte, NC 28262
(Re)Connect with MPA alumni, students, faculty, and staff for drinks, lite bites, and great conversation in DC at a UNC MPA Happy Hour Hub.
When: Thursday, April 9
Where: Calico, 50 Blagden Alley NW, Washington DC 20001
The UNC Master of Public Administration program is proud to celebrate the appointment of Christina Farrell, ‘92 as the new Commissioner of New York City Emergency Management, the nation’s largest local emergency management agency.
Commissioner Farrell brings more than three decades of public service to this role, including 23 years with NYC Emergency Management and over 31 years with the City of New York. Her appointment by the mayor marks a significant milestone in a distinguished career spent strengthening the city’s preparedness, response, and resilience.
In reflecting on the announcement, she shared:
“After 23 years at NYC Emergency Management and more than 31 with the City of New York, Mayor Mamdani has appointed me Commissioner of the nation’s largest local emergency management agency. I am so honored to lead this amazing team, and I understand what an awesome responsibility this is. The public servants at our agency work tirelessly on behalf of all 8.5 million New Yorkers before, during and after emergencies, and we are excited for this new era for our agency and New York City.”
Beyond her contributions to New York City, Commissioner Farrell has remained a dedicated member of the UNC MPA community. She has served as an MPA Alumni Mentor, supporting students as they explore careers in public service, and is an active member of the MPA Alumni Association Board, where she helps strengthen connections between alumni, students, and the program. Most recently, she returned to UNC-Chapel Hill as a panelist at the Deil S. Wright Public Service Forum in October 2025, sharing insights from her extensive leadership experience with MPA students, faculty, and alumni.
Her leadership embodies the mission of the UNC MPA program: preparing public service professionals to lead, innovate, and serve the public good at every level.
Congratulations, Commissioner Farrell! UNC MPA is proud to count you among our alumni and look forward to following your continued impact on New York City and the field of emergency management.
(Re)Connect with MPA alumni, students, faculty, and staff for drinks, lite bites, and great conversation in Winston-Salem for a UNC MPA Happy Hour Hub. Whether you are attending the NCCCMA Winter Seminar or not, we’d love to see you.
When: Thursday, January 29th
Where: Small Batch, 241 W 5th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
(Re)Connect with MPA alumni, students, faculty, and staff for drinks, lite bites, and great conversation in Tampa, FL for a UNC MPA Happy Hour Hub. Whether you are attending the ICMA Conference or not, we’d love to see you.
Where: Motorworks Brewing – 707 Harbour Post Drive Tampa, FL 33602