Charles D. Michel

Last updated
Charles D. Michel
ADM Charles Michel.jpg
Born (1963-04-07) April 7, 1963 (age 62)
Lawton, Oklahoma, U.S.
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg United States
BranchFlag of the United States Coast Guard.svg United States Coast Guard
Years of service19852018
Rank USCG O-10 shoulderboard.svg Admiral
Commands Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
Director of Joint Interagency Task Force South
Commanding officer of USCGC Resolute
Commanding officer of USCGC Cape Current
Awards Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (5)

Charles David Michel (born April 7, 1963) is a former United States Coast Guard admiral who last served as the 30th vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. He is the first vice commandant to hold the rank of admiral while in office. Originally a vice admiral when he assumed office on August 6, 2015, Michel was promoted to four-star admiral on May 24, 2016, when the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 elevated the statutory rank for the position to admiral. Michel is also the first career judge advocate in any of the armed forces to achieve four-star rank. [1] Michel retired from the Coast Guard on May 24, 2018, after over 33 years of service.

Contents

Early life and education

Michel was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, in 1963 [2] and graduated from Brandon High School at Brandon, Florida in 1981. Michel graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a degree in marine engineering with high honors in 1985. He also graduated in 1992 summa cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law as the salutatorian and is a member of The Florida Bar. [1]

Career

Michel has served on four cutters including a tour aboard USCGC Decisive as deck watch officer, USCGC Dauntless as executive officer, and tours as commanding officer on USCGC Cape Current and USCGC Resolute. [1] Other assignments have included a tour as staff attorney for the Eighth Coast Guard District at New Orleans, Louisiana and assignments at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. as head of the operations division the Office of Maritime and International Law and a later tour as chief of the same office. Michel also served a tour as legislative counsel for the office of congressional and governmental affairs. [1] His flag assignments include director, governmental and public affairs, military advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security, director, Joint Interagency Task Force South, deputy commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, and deputy commandant of operations at Coast Guard Headquarters. [1]

Awards and decorations

USCGCO.jpg
Homeland Security Distinguished Service Ribbon.svg
Coast Guard Distinguished Service ribbon.svg US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Legion of Merit ribbon.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Operational Distinguishing Device.png 1 golden star.svg U.S. Coast Guard Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Operational Distinguishing Device.png U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Operational Distinguishing Device.png 1 golden star.svg
Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon.svg USA - CG PUC Hurricane Katrina.png Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg
Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award ribbon.png Coast Guard Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Operational Distinguishing Device.png Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Operational Distinguishing Device.png 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg
Meritorious Team Commendation ribbon.svg Operational Distinguishing Device.png 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Coast Guard Excellence Ribbon.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Bicentennial Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal ribbon.svg Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg
9-11 Ribbon.svg Special Operations Service Ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg U.S. Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Unidentified ribbon ADM Michel.png USCG Sharpshooter Rifle Ribbon.png Coast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.svg
USCG - Commandant's Staff Badge.png Emblem Knockout.png USCGCAFLT.jpg Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg
Badge Cutterman Insignia (Officer)
1st row Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
2nd row Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with four gold award stars
3rd row Meritorious Service Medal with gold award star and Operational Distinguishing Device Coast Guard Commendation Medal with "O" device Coast Guard Achievement Medal with gold award star and "O" device
4th row Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation with "hurricane symbol" Joint Meritorious Unit Award
5th row Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award Coast Guard Unit Commendation with "O" device Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with two award stars and "O" device
6th row Meritorious Team Commendation with three award stars and "O" device Coast Guard "E" Ribbon with two award stars Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation
7th row National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal
8th row Transportation 9-11 Ribbon Special Operations Service Ribbon with four service stars Sea Service Ribbon with two service stars
9th row Colombian Navy Distinguished Service Medal Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with silver sharpshooter device Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon
Badges Commandant Staff Badge Office of the Secretary of Homeland Security Identification Badge Command Afloat Pin
Joint Staff Identification Badge

Dates of rank

Ensign Lieutenant, Junior Grade Lieutenant Lieutenant Commander Commander Captain
O-1O-2O-3O-4O-5O-6
USCG O-1 insignia.svg USCG O-2 insignia.svg US CG O3 insignia.svg USCG O-4 insignia.svg US CG O5 insignia.svg US CG O6 insignia.svg
May 22, 1985November 22, 1986May 22, 1990September 1, 1995October 1, 2000March 1, 2006
Rear Admiral (lower half) Rear Admiral (upper half) Vice Admiral Admiral
O-7O-8O-9O-10
US CG O7 insignia.svg US CG O8 insignia.svg US CG O9 insignia.svg USCG O-10 insignia.svg
October 1, 2009July 1, 2012May 2, 2014May 24, 2016

Personal life

In addition to his military awards, Michel was the American Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year for the Coast Guard in 1995, and the Judge Advocates Association Career Armed Services Attorney of the Year for the U.S. Coast Guard in 2000. [1] Also, Michel has received the USCG Public Service Commendation certificate. [1]

Notes

Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Charles D. Michel, Notable People Biographies, U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office
  2. "Biographical information and qualifications" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-09-07.
References cited
Military offices
Preceded by Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
2015–2018
Succeeded by