Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
Seal of the Coast Guard
Flag of the Vice Commandant
Incumbent ADM Steven D. Poulin since May 31, 2022
United States Coast Guard
Type	Service vice chief
Reports to	Commandant of the Coast Guard
Seat	Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building, Washington, D.C.
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument	14 U.S.C. § 304
Formation	1929
First holder	Benjamin M. Chiswell
Website	www.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.

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