Jody A. Breckenridge

Last updated
Jody A. Breckenridge
Jody A. Breckenridge.jpg
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg United States
Service/branchFlag of the United States Coast Guard.svg  United States Coast Guard
Rank Flag of a United States Coast Guard vice admiral.svg Vice admiral
Commands held USCG Pacarea.png Coast Guard Pacific Area

Jody A. Breckenridge is a former commander of the U.S. Coast Guard's Pacific Area.

Contents

The area of operations for this command encompasses over 73,000,000 square miles (190,000,000 km2) throughout the Pacific Basin to the Far East. Vice Admiral Breckenridge oversaw the operation of units performing missions in maritime safety, maritime mobility, protection of natural resources, maritime security, homeland security, and national defense. In addition, she oversaw two service level commands – the Deployable Operations Group and the Coast Guard Force Readiness Command.

Early life and education

Breckenridge grew up in Potomac, Maryland, and joined the Coast Guard in 1976. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, earned a master's degree in public policy from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. While attending the University of Maryland, she was elected to the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi and was presented an Excellence in Scholarship award, graduating with honors. In 2007, she was honored with the University of Maryland Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Career

Prior to her assignment as PACAREA commander, she served as the director, Strategic Transformation Team, where she was responsible for aligning and synchronizing the efforts to transform and modernize the Coast Guard. Simultaneously, she served as assistant commandant for human resources where she had oversight of the Coast Guard's HR professionals. From 2005 to 2006 Breckenridge served as commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District in Alameda, California, overseeing Coast Guard operations in the Southwest states of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, and the Eastern Pacific Ocean. During her tenure, the Eleventh District stepped up its inter-agency collaboration leading to record drug seizures including the MV Gatun, the largest maritime interdiction in US history, and the arrest of Francisco Javier Arellano Felix, head of the Arellano Felix drug cartel. Her initial flag assignment was as commander, Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific, with responsibility for all mission support in the Pacific Theater.

Breckenridge graduated from Officer Candidate School in June 1976. Her first tour of duty was in the National Response Center, eventually as senior watchstander. Afterwards, she was assigned to the Pollution Response Branch of the Marine Environmental Protection Division at the Coast Guard Headquarters. During that time, she served as a White House social aide. For a short time, she was detailed to the Coast Guard Academy for the summer training program when women were first admitted to the academy.

In September 1979, Breckenridge reported to Group Seattle, where she served as the assistant port safety officer and was then selected as the first group operations officer. Subsequent duty assignments have included the Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center, Coast Guard Headquarters, postgraduate school at the University of Maryland, chief of Officer Candidate School at Training Center Yorktown, Virginia, executive officer of Integrated Support Center Seattle, Coast Guard Personnel Command (chief, officer assignments), Industrial College of the Armed Services, the Coast Guard Personnel Command (assistant chief and chief, Officer Personnel Management Division), and commanding officer, Coast Guard Recruiting Command. While assigned to the Personnel Command, Breckenridge represented the Coast Guard on a five-month Department of Defense study entitled "The Officer Personnel Structure for the 21st Century". Breckenridge also served as the deputy chief of staff of the Coast Guard.

Since retirement, VADM Breckenridge has served on the board of the Marine's Memorial association, was chairman of the board of the Water Emergency Transportation Authority running the ferry service for the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay. She is vice chairman of the San Francisco Fleet Week, serves on the board of the Association for Rescue At Sea, is a board member for the Council for a Strong America, and is on the board of directors for 1st Command Financial Services. She is currently on the board of visitors for the National Defense University, and serves as vice chairman for the California Governor's Military Council.

Awards

Vice Admiral Breckenridge's awards include three Legion of Merits, the Meritorious Service Medal, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Achievement Medals, the Commandant's Letter of Commendation, and four Meritorious Team Commendations.

For the service to the country since her retirement, in 2018 The Commandant of Coast Guard presented to her the Secretary of Homeland Security's Award for Outstanding Public Service.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Coast Guard Auxiliary</span> Volunteer auxiliary service of the United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed, non-military volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard. Congress established the unit on 23 June 1939, as the United States Coast Guard Reserve. On February 19, 1941, the entity was renamed the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary's purpose is to bolster all USCG undertakings both at sea and in the sky, with the exception of tasks necessitating "direct" law enforcement or military actions. As of 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary boasted around 21,000 members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. William Kime</span> 19th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard

John William Kime was an admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 19th commandant from 1990 to 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwin J. Roland</span> USCG admiral (1905-1985)

Edwin John Roland, was a United States Coast Guard admiral and served as the twelfth Commandant of the Coast Guard from 1962 to 1966. During his tenure, Roland oversaw the replacement of many World War II era cutters under fleet modernization programs. He also assisted the U.S. Navy with operations in Vietnam by supplying crews and cutters for Operation Market Time. Roland was noted for his support in efforts to bring international safety standards to merchant shipping. Although Roland was already retired when the Coast Guard was transferred from the Department of Treasury to the newly formed Department of Transportation in 1967, he was largely responsible for the planning for the move and the Coast Guard retaining its military responsibilities along with its transportation related functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred C. Richmond</span> United States Coast Guard admiral (1902–1984)

Alfred Carroll Richmond was an admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 11th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1954 to 1962, the second longest tenure of any U.S. Coast Guard Commandant following Russell R. Waesche who served from 1936 to 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank A. Welch</span> 9th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

Franklin A. Welch was the ninth Master Chief Petty Officer of the United States Coast Guard. Welch entered the Coast Guard in 1980 after graduating from Shades Valley High School Class of 1978, in Birmingham, Alabama. A former Master Chief Quartermaster, he served in office from October 10, 2002, to June 14, 2006, and served in the Coast Guard for over 26 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James C. Van Sice</span>

James C. Van Sice is a retired Rear Admiral in the United States Coast Guard. He was the 38th Superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, succeeding Rear Admiral Robert C. Olsen. He was succeeded by Rear Admiral J. Scott Burhoe. Rear Admiral Van Sice retired from the Coast Guard in 2007..

This article covers the organization of the United States Coast Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles D. Wurster</span>

Charles D. Wurster is a retired vice admiral in the United States Coast Guard who last served as the Commander, Pacific Area and Commander, Defense Force West. He is now retired from the Coast Guard, is the President/CEO of the Port of San Diego, and serves as national commodore of the Sea Scouting division of the BSA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John C. Acton</span> United States Coast Guard rear admiral

John C. Acton is a retired United States Coast Guard rear admiral who served as the Director of Operations Coordination for DHS. Acton formerly served as Director of the DHS Presidential Transition Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric A. Trent</span> 7th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

Master Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Eric Anthony "Rick" Trent served as the seventh Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard from July 1, 1994, to May 31, 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald J. Rabago</span>

Ronald James Rábago is a retired United States Coast Guard rear admiral who in 2006 became the first person of Hispanic American descent to be promoted to flag rank in the United States Coast Guard. He retired as the assistant commandant for engineering and logistics and the United States Coast Guard's chief engineer in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cari Batson Thomas</span>

Cari Batson Thomas is a retired rear admiral of the United States Coast Guard and a 1984 graduate of the U. S. Coast Guard Academy. On January 22, 2010, Thomas became the third female commander of USCG Training Center Cape May to be advanced to a flag officer. Her final assignment was Assistant Commandant for Human Resources at the Coast Guard Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert H. Scarborough</span> United States Coast Guard admiral (1923–2020)

Robert Henry Scarborough Jr. was a vice admiral in the United States Coast Guard who served as the 13th Vice Commandant from 1978 to 1982.

Captain Charley L. Diaz is a 30-year United States Coast Guard veteran who served on Active Duty from 1982 to 2012. Diaz is best known for leading the crew of the USCGC Sherman (WHEC-720) in the seizure of the Panamanian freighter GATUN off the coast of Panama in March 2007, which netted nearly 20 tons of cocaine worth an estimated $600 million. It was the largest maritime drug bust in US history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Webster Cluff</span> United States Coast Guard officer

Daniel Webster Cluff was a United States Coast Guard officer who led one of the U.S. Coast Guard's largest small-boat rescue operations in the midst of a New England winter storm on February 18 through 19, 1952, as Chatham Lifeboat Station's officer-in-charge. Warrant Officer Cluff's expertise in small-boat life-saving operations and confidence in his men's abilities resulted in Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG 36500 crew's rescue of thirty-two survivors from the stern section of SS Pendleton "only minutes before it capsized."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. Jay Lloyd</span> 6th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

Robert Jay Lloyd was the sixth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, serving as the enlisted advisor to the Commandant of the Coast Guard, from 1990 to 1994.

Charles E. Larkin is a retired United States Coast Guard vice admiral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy S. Lacore</span>

Nancy S. Lacore is a rear admiral who serves as the 93rd commandant of Naval District Washington since June 10, 2022. She most recently served the director of the Maritime Partnership Program, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, with additional duties as vice commander of U.S. 6th Fleet in Naples, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna L. Cottrell</span> American Coast Guard admiral

Donna L. Cottrell is a retired United States Coast Guard rear admiral who last served as the Coast Guard District 9 Commander. In this role, she served as the senior Commander for the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway, an area that covers eight states. The Area of Operations for the command accumulates over 6,700 miles of shoreline and 1,500 miles of international shoreline with Canada. In addition, she previously oversaw the service level command, Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) out of Jacksonville, FL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan A. Moore</span> US Coast Guard Rear Admiral

Nathan A. Moore is a US Coast Guard Rear Admiral and deputy commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area. He previously served as commander of the Seventeenth Coast Guard District.