The United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA),located in New London,Connecticut,is the U.S. service academy specifically for the United States Coast Guard. Founded in 1876,the academy provides education to future Coast Guard officers in one of nine major fields of study.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed,civilian 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.
Thad William Allen is a former admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 23rd commandant from 2006 to 2010. Allen is best known for his performance directing the federal response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast region from September 2005 to January 2006,and for his role as National Incident Commander of the Unified Command for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Robert J. Papp Jr. succeeded him as Commandant on 25 May 2010.
This article covers the organization of the United States Coast Guard.
The Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal is a military decoration of the Department of Homeland Security,which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members for exceptionally meritorious service. The current version of the medal was established in February 2003,retroactive to March 1,2002.
Paul Frederick Zukunft is a retired admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 25th commandant. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Commandant,with the rank of admiral,in May 2014 and relieved Robert J. Papp Jr. as commandant on 30 May 2014. Prior to his selection as Commandant,he served as Commander,Coast Guard Pacific Area. In this position,Zukunft was the operational commander for all U.S. Coast Guard missions within the half of the world that ranges from the Rocky Mountains to the waters off the East Coast of Africa. He concurrently served as Commander,Defense Force West and provided U.S. Coast Guard mission support to the U.S. Department of Defense and Combatant Commanders.
Sandra Leigh Stosz is a retired United States Coast Guard Vice Admiral whose final active duty assignment was as Deputy Commandant for Mission Support. Previously,she was chosen by the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard,ADM Robert J. Papp to become the superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2011. As such,she is the first woman to lead a United States service academy. At the time of her appointment to head the Coast Guard Academy,she was the Coast Guard's director of Reserve and leadership. Stosz was confirmed as a vice admiral in May 2015.
The vice commandant of the Coast Guard serves as the second-in-command of the United States Coast Guard,behind only the commandant of the Coast Guard.
There have long been women in the United States Coast Guard,with Myrtle Hazard becoming the first woman to enlist in 1918,and women continue to serve in it today.
Charles W. Ray is a retired United States Coast Guard admiral who served as the vice commandant of the Coast Guard from May 24,2018 to June 18,2021. He previously served as the Coast Guard's deputy commandant for operations.
Melissa Bert last served as the Judge Advocate General and Chief Counsel of the United States Coast Guard. Rear Admiral (RADM) Bert is the first woman to serve in this position. Prior flag assignments held by RADM Bert include the U.S. Coast Guard’s Director of Governmental and Public Affairs and Deputy Director of Operations for U.S. Northern Command.
Linda Lee Fagan was the 27th Commandant of the Coast Guard from June 2022 to January 2025. Previously,in 2021,she became the 32nd Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard's first female four-star admiral. Before that,she was the commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area with prior terms as Coast Guard Deputy for Operations,Policy,and Capabilities;commander,First Coast Guard District;and commander,Coast Guard Sector New York. Fagan is also the Coast Guard's first Gold Ancient Trident,the officer with the longest service record in the Marine Safety Field. In April 2021,Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced her nomination as the next Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard,succeeding Charles W. Ray. She was confirmed on June 17,2021,and assumed office on June 18.
Michael F. McAllister is a retired United States Coast Guard vice admiral who last served as commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area and Defense Force West from June 30,2021 to July 8,2022. He most recently served as Deputy Commandant for Mission Support and,prior to that,as commander of the Coast Guard Seventeenth District.
Steven D. Poulin is a retired United States Coast Guard admiral who served as the 33rd Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard from 2022 to 2024. He most recently served as commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area and Coast Guard Defense Force East from 2020 to 2022. As Atlantic Area commander,he had operational control over Coast Guard missions covering the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf,covering 5 Coast Guard districts and 40 states. He previously served as director of operations for the United States Southern Command,commander of the Coast Guard First District,and Judge Advocate General and Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard.
Andrew Joseph Tiongson is a United States Coast Guard vice admiral. Vice Admiral Tiongson has served concurrently as Commander,Pacific Area and Commander,Defense Force West since 8 July 2022. He most recently served as the Director of Operations (J3) at the United States Southern Command and was previously Commander of the Coast Guard First District. In his first flag assignment,he served as the Coast Guard's Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commandant for Resources.
Laura M. Dickey is a US Coast Guard Rear Admiral who most recently served as the deputy commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area. She is a former Commander of the Fifth Coast Guard District.
Peter Williams Gautier is a United States Coast Guard vice admiral who serves as the deputy commandant for operations. He previously served as the deputy commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area.
Kevin Eugene Lunday is a United States Coast Guard admiral who has served as the acting commandant of the Coast Guard since 21 January 2025 and as the 34th vice commandant of the Coast Guard since 13 June 2024. He previously served as commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area from 2022 to 2024.
