Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
Seal of the United States Coast Guard.svg
Seal of the Coast Guard
Flag of the Vice Commandant of the USCG.svg
Flag of the Vice Commandant
ADM Steven D. Poulin.jpg
Incumbent
ADM Steven D. Poulin
since May 31, 2022
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

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.

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 Steven D. Poulin, who assumed office on May 31, 2022.

Vice commandants of the Coast Guard

Adm. Karl L. Schultz, commandant of the Coast Guard, congratulates Adm. Steven D. Poulin, incoming vice commandant, in a ceremony on May 31, 2022.
Adm. Karl L. Schultz, commandant of the Coast Guard, congratulates Adm. Steven D. Poulin, incoming vice commandant, in a ceremony on May 31, 2022.
No. Rank Photo Tenure
1 CAPT Benjamin M. Chiswell
Benjamin M. Chiswell.jpg
1929–1931
2 RADM Leon C. Covell 1931–1941
3 RADM Lloyd T. Chalker 1941–1946
4 VADM Merlin O'Neill
Admiral Merlin O
1946–1949
5 RADM Alfred C. Richmond
Alfred C Richmond.jpg
1949–1954
6 VADM James Hirshfield
JamesHirshfield.png
1954–1962
7 VADM Edwin J. Roland
Edwin J Roland.jpg
1962–1962
8 VADM Donald M. Morrison 1962–1964
9 VADM William D. Shields 1964–1966
10 VADM Paul E. Trimble
PaulTrimble.jpg
1966–1970
11 VADM Thomas R. Sargent III
VADM ThosRSargentIII.jpg
1970–1974
12 VADM Ellis L. Perry
VADM Ellis Perry USCG.jpg
1974–1978
13 VADM Robert H. Scarborough
VADM R H Scarborough USCG.png
1978–1982
14 VADM Benedict L. Stabile
VADM B L Stabile USCG.jpg
1982–1986
15 VADM James C. Irwin
James Clarence Irwin USCG VADM.jpg
1986–1988
16 VADM Clyde T. Lusk
Clude Lusk VADM USCG.png
1988–1990
17 VADM Martin H. Daniell
VADM Daniell USCG.jpg
1990–1992
18 VADM Robert T. Nelson
Vadm nelson uscg.jpg
1992–1994
19 VADM Arthur E. Henn
VADM Henn 2.jpg
1994–1996
20 VADM Richard D. Herr
RichardHerr.jpg
1996–1998
21 VADM James C. Card
VADM J C Card USCG.jpeg
1998–2000
22 VADM Thomas H. Collins
Admiral Thomas H. Collins, USCG.jpg
2000–2002
23 VADM Thomas J. Barrett
TJBarrett USCG.jpg
2002–2004
24 VADM Terry M. Cross
Terry m cross.jpg
2004–2006
25 VADM Vivien Crea
VADM Vivien Crea official portrait.jpg
2006–2009
26 VADM David Pekoske
David P. Pekoske.jpg
2009–2010
27 VADM Sally Brice-O'Hara
VADM Brice-OHara.jpg
2010–2012
28 VADM John Currier
VADM John P Currier official portrait.jpg
2012–2014
29 VADM Peter Neffenger
Vice Admiral Peter V. Neffenger.jpg
2014–2015
30 ADM Charles D. Michel[1][2]
ADM Charles Michel.jpg
2015–2018
31 ADM Charles W. Ray
Adm. Charles W. Ray.jpg
2018–2021
32 ADM Linda L. Fagan
Admiral Linda L. Fagan, Coast Guard Vice Commandant.jpg
2021–2022
33 ADM Steven D. Poulin
ADM Steven D. Poulin.jpg
2022–present

See also

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Eckstein, Megan (2016-06-02). "USCG Adm. Michel Promoted; Vice Comm. Now A 4-Star Job". USNI News. Retrieved 2022-12-27.