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.

Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
Seal of the Coast Guard
Flag of the Vice Commandant
since June 13, 2024
United States Coast Guard
TypeService vice chief
Reports toCommandant of the Coast Guard
SeatDouglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building, Washington, D.C.
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument14 U.S.C. § 304
Formation1929
First holderBenjamin M. Chiswell
Websitewww.uscg.mil

Since 1929, 31 officers have served as Vice Commandant, or, as the position was referred to before 1972, Assistant Commandant. The title of the position was changed effective October 2, 1972, pursuant to Pub. L. 92–451. This position has been historically held by a vice admiral until the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 elevated the statutory rank for the position to admiral.

The current vice commandant is Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, who assumed office on June 13, 2024.[1]

Vice commandants of the Coast Guard

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No. Name Photo Tenure
1 Captain
Benjamin M. Chiswell
  1929–1931
2 Rear Admiral
Leon C. Covell
1931–1941
3 Rear Admiral
Lloyd T. Chalker
  1941–1946
4 Vice Admiral
Merlin O'Neill
  1946–1949
5 Rear Admiral
Alfred C. Richmond
  1949–1954
6 Vice Admiral
James Hirshfield
  1954–1962
7 Vice Admiral
Edwin J. Roland
  1962–1962
8 Vice Admiral
Donald M. Morrison
1962–1964
9 Vice Admiral
William D. Shields
1964–1966
10 Vice Admiral
Paul E. Trimble
  1966–1970
11 Vice Admiral
Thomas R. Sargent III
  1970–1974
12 Vice Admiral
Ellis L. Perry
  1974–1978
13 Vice Admiral
Robert H. Scarborough
  1978–1982
14 Vice Admiral
Benedict L. Stabile
  1982–1986
15 Vice Admiral
James C. Irwin
  1986–1988
16 Vice Admiral
Clyde T. Lusk
  1988–1990
17 Vice Admiral
Martin H. Daniell
  1990–1992
18 Vice Admiral
Robert T. Nelson
  1992–1994
19 Vice Admiral
Arthur E. Henn
  1994–1996
20 Vice Admiral
Richard D. Herr
  1996–1998
21 Vice Admiral
James C. Card
  1998–2000
22 Vice Admiral
Thomas H. Collins
  2000–2002
23 Vice Admiral
Thomas J. Barrett
  2002–2004
24 Vice Admiral
Terry M. Cross
  2004–2006
25 Vice Admiral
Vivien Crea
  2006–2009
26 Vice Admiral
David Pekoske
  2009–2010
27 Vice Admiral
Sally Brice-O'Hara
  2010–2012
28 Vice Admiral
John Currier
  2012–2014
29 Vice Admiral
Peter Neffenger
  2014–2015
30 Admiral
Charles D. Michel[2][3]
  2015–2018
31 Admiral
Charles W. Ray
  2018–2021
32 Admiral
Linda L. Fagan
  2021–2022
33 Admiral
Steven D. Poulin
  2022–2024
34 Admiral
Kevin E. Lunday
  2024–present

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Admiral Kevin E. Lunday".
  2. ^ Originally a vice admiral when he assumed office on August 6, 2015. Michel was promoted to admiral on May 24, 2016 when the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 elevated the vice commandant's rank to admiral.
  3. ^ Eckstein, Megan (2016-06-02). "USCG Adm. Michel Promoted; Vice Comm. Now A 4-Star Job". USNI News. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
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