Brice-O'Hara attended Annapolis High School where one of her classmates was Bill Belichick.

Brice-O'Hara received her Coast Guard commission from Officer Candidate School 1975.

She received a Master of Arts degree in public administration from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a Master of Science degree in national security strategy from the National War College.

In a change of command ceremony on May 24, 2010, she relieved Vice Admiral David Pekoske.

In a change of command ceremony on May 18, 2012, she was relieved as vice-commandant by Vice Admiral John Currier.