Episode 6: Family, Self-Advocacy, and Balance with LCDR Katie Williams ’12

<p>In this episode of <i>Corps Conversations</i>, LCDR Katie Williams '12 joins hosts 1/c Kevin Pandorf and Tara King Clark to share how she found her place in the Coast Guard's prevention community, why self-advocacy became one of the most important leadership skills in her career, and how pursuing opportunities outside the traditional path led to some of the most rewarding experiences of her service.</p><p></p><p>From choosing prevention over the cutter fleet, to navigating dual-military family challenges, to serving as a technical advisor on the investigation into the Titan submersible tragedy, Katie's story demonstrates that successful careers rarely follow a straight line. </p><p></p><p>Along the way, she reflects on balancing leadership and family, building trust with teams, the importance of emotional intelligence, and why young officers should never be afraid to ask for what they want.</p><p></p><p>Whether you're a cadet deciding on your first assignment, a young alum navigating career pivots, or someone balancing professional ambitions with personal priorities, Katie offers a powerful reminder: there is no single blueprint for success.</p><p></p><p>In this episode, you'll hear:</p><ul><li>Why prevention may be the Coast Guard's "best-kept secret"</li><li>How self-advocacy shaped Katie's career and family decisions</li><li>Lessons learned from dual-military marriage and raising a family while serving</li><li>What the Titan submersible investigation taught her about leadership and decision-making<ul><li>View Katie in the Discovery Channel’s documentary about the USCG investigation, <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://go.discovery.com/video/implosion-the-titanic-sub-disaster-discovery-atve-us/implosiontitanic-sub-disaster" target="_blank"><i>Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster</i></a>. </li></ul></li><li>Why emotional intelligence may be the most important leadership skill of all</li><li>How to build trust, navigate career pivots, and create your own definition of success</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Alumni Impact Interlude</b></p><p>In this episode's Alumni Impact Interlude, Tara King Clark speaks with 1/c Ellis McLaughlin about the growing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) program at the Coast Guard Academy. Ellis discusses how Alumni Association-supported drone assets—including the donated Skydio X2D and Red Cat FPV platforms—are helping cadets gain operational experience with emerging technologies that are already transforming Coast Guard mi