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 commandant of the Coast Guard is the service chief and highest-ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The commandant is an admiral,appointed for a four-year term by the president of the United States upon confirmation by the United States Senate. The commandant is assisted by a vice commandant,who is also an admiral,and two area commanders and two deputy commandants,all of whom are vice admirals.
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.
Merlin O'Neill served as the tenth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1 January 1950 to 1 June 1954.
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.
Vivien Suzanne Crea was the 25th Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard under Admiral Thad W. Allen. Vice Commandant is the second highest position in the Coast Guard,and she was the first woman to hold it. She is the former Commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area,and was confirmed by the Senate to her historic post in June 2006. Crea retired on August 7,2009,and was replaced by VADM David Pekoske.
This article covers the organization of the United States Coast Guard.
Admiral Robert Joseph Papp Jr. is a retired admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 24th commandant from 2010 to 2014. He led the largest component of the United States Department of Homeland Security,with 42,000 active duty,8,200 Reserve,8,000 civilian,and 31,000 Auxiliary personnel.
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.
Charles Ward "Tommy" Thomas was a flag officer in the United States Coast Guard and commanding officer of the icebreakers USCGC Northland (WPG-49) and USCGC Eastwind (WAGB-279) that served in the Greenland Patrol during World War II. In August 1945 he was appointed commander of Greenland Patrol. After the war he was commanding officer of USCGC Northwind (WAGB-282) during Operation Highjump;The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Project 1946–1947,also known as the Fourth Byrd Antarctic Expedition. Later followed expeditions in the Bering Sea.
Ellis L. Perry was a vice admiral and Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.
There have been women in the United States Coast Guard since 1918,and women continue to serve in it today.
USCGC Joseph Gerczak (WPC-1126) is the 26th Sentinel-class cutter built for the United States Coast Guard. She is one of three Fast Response Cutters homeported in Honolulu,Hawaii.
Karl Leo Schultz is a retired United States Coast Guard admiral who served as the 26th Commandant of the Coast Guard from 2018 to 2022.
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.
The following January 2019 order of battle is for the United States Coast Guard.
Donald McGregor Morrison was a vice admiral in the United States Coast Guard who served as the eighth Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1962 to 1964.
Linda Lee Fagan is a United States Coast Guard admiral who serves as the 27th Commandant of the Coast Guard. 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.
The following is a list of Commanding Officers of USCGC Eagle (WIX-327). There have been a total of 31 Eagle captains during her 78 years under USCG commission,and 5 during her 10 years of commission as Horst Wessel under the Kriegsmarine.
Joanna M. Nunan is a United States Maritime Service vice admiral,and a retired United States Coast Guard rear admiral,who has served as the 14th superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy since December 8,2022. The first woman to become superintendent of the Academy,her appointment was lauded by secretary of transportation Pete Buttigieg and administrator of the United States Maritime Administration Ann C. Phillips.
United States
United States Coast Guard 
Vice admiral 
