Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
Second-in-command of the United States Coast Guard
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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.
with Senate advice and consent
| Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard | |
|---|---|
Seal of the Coast Guard | |
 Flag of the vice commandant | |
| 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 |
Since 1929, 35 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 35th and current vice commandant is Admiral Thomas G. Allan Jr, since 27 February 2026. Allan also served as the acting vice commandant from 3 July 2025 to 26 February 2026.
Vice commandants of the Coast Guard
| 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 | .jpg) | 2024–2025 |
| - | Vice Admiral Thomas G. Allan Jr. Acting |  | 2025–2026 |
| 35 | Admiral Thomas G. Allan Jr. | 2026–present |