Biography

Susan Polizzotto is a retired Coast Guard Commander and transitioning private practice attorney. Susan was the Commanding Officer for USCGC TAMPA (WMEC 902) from July 2011 to August 2013. She commanded a crew of one hundred and nine Coast Guards onboard a 270-ft Medium Endurance Cutter. Susan executed multi-mission maritime patrols including search and rescue, homeland security, living marine resource and counter drug law enforcement. During her two years as the Tampa’s commanding officer, the crew rescued eight mariners, detained twenty seven suspected drug smugglers and seized 13,000 pounds of cocaine worth more than $197 million. Susan formerly served as the Liaison to Department of State U.S. Coast Guard from July 2009 to June 2011 in Washington, DC. Led interagency coordination between the Coast Guard and Department of State, primarily with the Bureaus of Political Military Affairs, International Narcotics & Law Enforcement, and population, refugees & immigration. She served as a member of an international delegation to Eastern Africa tasked with assessing law enforcement capacity and creating programs to counter Somali piracy. Susan led the department's diplomatic response to the attack by pirates on the sailing vessel quest. She helped coordinate the U.S. government response to the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, contributed to the interagency Maritime Security Sector Reform guide, and was instrumental to the effort to develop policies concerning migrant interdiction and repatriation in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean region. Susan received her Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 2009. She also holds her J.D. and Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University, with a focus in Japanese and International Relations, respectively. During law school she participated on a team from BYU Law in moot court competitions at Temple University and John Marshall law schools (1990-91). BYU team awarded first place at Temple University's criminal law moot court competition in 1990, edging out Harvard. During her undergraduate studies she participated in a unique language immersion program for 1.5 years by living at the Japan House, part of BYU's off-campus housing. House rules required all residents to speak Japanese at home. The rules were enforced by two kindly head residents, both Japanese women who were native speakers. Susan is newly transitioning into a career in private practice where she will practice general law with expertise in maritime law and criminal defense. She also looks to represent Veterans, pro bono, and spend more time with her husband of four years, Jim Paddington.