Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard


The Vice Commandant serves as the second-in-command of the United States 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. 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.

Vice Commandants of the Coast Guard

No.RankPhotoTenure
1CAPT Benjamin M. Chiswell1929–1931
2RADM Leon C. Covell1931–1941
3RADM Lloyd T. Chalker1941–1946
4VADM Merlin O'Neill1946–1949
5RADM Alfred C. Richmond1949–1954
6VADM James Hirshfield1954–1962
7VADM Edwin J. Roland1962–1962
8VADM Donald M. Morrison1962–1964
9VADM William D. Shields1964–1966
10VADM Paul E. Trimble1966–1970
11VADM Thomas R. Sargent III1970–1974
12VADM Ellis L. Perry1974–1978
13VADM Robert H. Scarborough1978–1982
14VADM Benedict L. Stabile1982–1986
15VADM James C. Irwin1986–1988
16VADM Clyde T. Lusk1988–1990
17VADM Martin H. Daniell1990–1992
18VADM Robert T. Nelson1992–1994
19VADM Arthur E. Henn1994–1996
20VADM Richard D. Herr1996–1998
21VADM James C. Card1998–2000
22VADM Thomas H. Collins2000–2002
23VADM Thomas J. Barrett2002–2004
24VADM Terry M. Cross2004–2006
25VADM Vivien Crea2006–2009
26VADM David Pekoske2009–2010
27VADM Sally Brice-O'Hara2010–2012
28VADM John Currier2012–2014
29VADM Peter Neffenger2014–2015
30ADM Charles D. Michel2015–2018
31ADM Charles W. Ray2018–present