John B. Hayes

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For other persons named John Hayes, see John Hayes (disambiguation).

John Briggs Hayes (August 30, 1924-January 17, 2001), served as the sixteenth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1978 to 1982.

He was born in Jamestown, New York and grew up in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Hayes graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut in 1946, although Academy records list him in the Class of 1947. His first command assignment was at the LORAN Transmitting Station in Matsumae, Japan. After a series of Coast Guard cutter command assignments, he attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Upon his graduation, he was stationed in Washington, D.C., where he graduated from George Washington University, earning an M.A. in international affairs.

From 1966 to 1968, he assumed a command post, stationed in Vietnam, during the war. Returning to Washington, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to the USCG Office of Boating Safety, followed by his service as Commandant of Cadets at the Coast Guard Academy. From 1975 until his appointment as Coast Guard Commandant, he served as Commander of the Juneau, Alaska-based 17th Coast Guard District.

Following his retirement from the Coast Guard, Hayes moved to Boothbay, Maine. He died while vacationing in the Florida Keys after being struck by a car at the age of 76. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Hayes is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.