Commandant of the Coast Guard

Commandant of the
United States Coast Guard


Incumbent:
Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr.
since: May 25, 2010
First Leonard G. Shepard
Formation December 14, 1889
Website Official Website

The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United States Senate. The Commandant is assisted by a Vice Commandant, two Assistant Commandants/Area Commanders and a Chief of Staff, all of whom are three-star Vice Admirals.

Unlike the chiefs of the other branches of the United States Armed Forces, the Commandant of the Coast Guard is not a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; he is, however, entitled to the same supplemental pay as the Joint Chiefs, per 37 U.S.C § 414(a)(5) ($4,000 per annum in 2009), and is accorded privilege of the floor under Senate Rule XXIII(1) as a de facto JCS member during Presidential addresses. Furthermore, in contrast to the Joint Chiefs who are not in the military's operational chain of command, the Commandant of the Coast Guard commands his service. He reports to the President, via the Secretary of Homeland Security. Prior to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2003, the Commandant reported to the Secretary of Transportation from 1966 to 2003. Until the creation of the Department of Transportation in 1966, the Commandant and the earlier counterparts had reported to the Secretary of the Treasury since 1790.

Contents

Evolution of the rank and title

The title of Commandant dates to a 1923 act that distributed the commissioned line and engineer officers of the Coast Guard in grades. Before 1923, the rank and title of the head of the Coast Guard was "captain-commandant." The rank "captain-commandant" originated in the Revenue Cutter Service in 1908. The original holder of that rank was the Chief of the Revenue Cutter Service (also known as the Revenue Marine). The Coast Guard traces the lineage of Commandants back to Captain Leonard G. Shepard, chief of the Revenue Marine Bureau, even though he never officially received the title of Captain-Commandant. The Captain-Commandant position was created in 1908 when Captain Worth G. Ross was the first to actually hold the position. Although he was retired, Captain Charles F. Shoemaker was elevated to the rank of Captain-Commandant. Captain Shepard had already died and was not elevated to the rank.

Chiefs of the Revenue Marine Bureau

Chiefs exercised centralized control over the Revenue Marine Bureau.

In 1849 the Revenue Marine Bureau was dissolved, and the Revenue Marine fell under the control the Commissioner of Customs until the Revenue Marine Bureau was again established in 1869.

List of Commandants

There have been 24 Commandants of the Coast Guard since the office of Chief of the Revenue Marine Bureau was transferred to a military billet including Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., the current Commandant.[1]

# Picture Name Rank Start of tenure End of tenure Notes
1 ShepardLeonard G. Shepard O-04 Captain 01889-12-14 December 14, 1889 01895-03-14 March 14, 1895 Shepard became the first military Chief of the "Revenue Marine Division" of the Treasury Department and is considered to be the first Commandant.[2]
2 ShoemakerCharles F. Shoemaker O-05 Captain 01895-03-19 March 19, 1895 01905-03-27 March 27, 1905 On May 8, 1908, Shoemaker was promoted to the rank of Captain-Commandant on the Retired List by Act of Congress.
3 RossWorth G. Ross O-05 Captain-Commandant 01905-04-25 April 25, 1905 01911-04-30 April 30, 1911 Ross was instrumental in the establishment of what was to become the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.
4 BertholfEllsworth P. Bertholf O-05 Commodore 01911-06-19 June 19, 1911 01919-06-30 June 30, 1919 Served during the merger of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service with the U.S. Life-Saving Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard. Was the first Coast Guard officer the achieve flag rank.)[3]
5 ReynoldsWilliam E. Reynolds O-05 Rear Admiral 01919-10-02 October 2, 1919 01924-01-11 January 11, 1924 Reynolds was the first Coast Guard officer to be promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral.
6 BillardFrederick C. Billard O-05 Rear Admiral 01924-01-11 January 11, 1924 01932-05-17 May 17, 1932 Billard was appointed to three consecutive terms as Commandant and died in office May 17, 1932, serving through the Prohibition Era and reorganization of the Academy.
7 HamletHarry G. Hamlet O-05 Rear Admiral 01932-06-14 June 14, 1932 01936-01-01 January 1, 1936 Hamlet persuaded Congress to dismiss efforts to merge the Coast Guard with the U.S. Navy. Continued serving after term as Commandant was over and eventually retired as a Vice Admiral by act of Congress.
8 WaescheRussell R. Waesche O-05 Admiral 01936-01-01 January 1, 1936 01946-01-01 January 1, 1946 Longest serving Commandant, first Commandant to be promoted to Vice Admiral and Admiral. Commandant during World War II and helped the Coast Guard remain a separate distinct service while it was assigned to the U.S Navy. Oversaw the largest manpower buildup in Coast Guard history and was instrumental in the formation of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.[4]
9 FarleyJoseph F. Farley O-05 Admiral 01946-01-01 January 1, 1946 01950-01-01 January 1, 1950 Farley served during the difficult Post-World War II era when additional statutory responsibilities were being added to the Coast Guard's mission structure and personnel allowances were being reduced.
10 O'NeillMerlin O'Neill O-05 Vice Admiral 01950-01-01 January 1, 1950 01954-06-01 June 1, 1954 O'Neill directed the increase in port security activities required by the passage of the Magnuson Act and revitalized the Coast Guard Reserve program emphasizing it's defense mission during wartime.
11 RichmondAlfred C. Richmond O-05 Admiral 01954-06-01 June 1, 1954 01962-06-01 June 1, 1962 Richmond served two full terms as Commandant and was the U.S. delegate to many international maritime conferences during his tenure.[5]
12 RolandEdwin J. Roland O-05 Admiral 01962-06-01 June 1, 1962 01966-06-01 June 1, 1966 Roland oversaw the replacement of many World War II era cutters under fleet modernization programs during his tenure. He assisted the U.S. Navy with operations in Vietnam by supplying crews and cutters for Operation Market Time.
13 SmithWillard J. Smith O-05 Admiral 01966-06-01 June 1, 1966 01970-06-01 June 1, 1970 Smith was Commandant when the Coast Guard was transferred from the Department of the Treasury to the newly formed Department of Transportation.
14 BenderChester R. Bender O-05 Admiral 01970-06-01 June 1, 1970 01974-06-01 June 1, 1974 The Coast Guard undertook new statutory responsibilities in the areas of marine safety, environmental protection and law enforcement during his tenure, however Bender is best known for his changes in the dress uniform worn by Coast Guardsmen; sometimes referred to as "Bender's Blues".
15 SilerOwen W. Siler O-05 Admiral 01974-06-01 June 1, 1974 01978-06-01 June 1, 1978 Several changes in environmental duties occurred during Siler's tenure as well as a step-up in drug interdiction activities. Replacement of aging cutters was given budget priority. First women entered the Coast Guard Academy.
16 HayesJohn B. Hayes O-05 Admiral 01978-06-01 June 1, 1978 01982-05-28 May 28, 1982 Hayes experienced severe budget problems during his tenure while fending off a move in Congress to transfer the Coast Guard to the Navy. Drug interdiction was increased and several high profile search and rescue cases occurred during his watch which helped keep the Coast Guard in the public eye.
17 GraceyJames S. Gracey O-05 Admiral 01982-05-28 May 28, 1982 01986-05-30 May 30, 1986 Gracey faced tight budgets at the same time he was successful at replacing aging cutters. Increasing the Coast Guard's role in the defense of coastal waters was accomplished.
18 YostPaul A. Yost, Jr. O-05 Admiral 01986-05-30 May 30, 1986 01990-05-31 May 31, 1990 Yost successfully maintained the service through difficult budget battles each year. In doing so, he also emphasized three 'primary mission areas": maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, and defense readiness. There was an increased emphasis on military/naval capabilities of the service.
19 KimeJ. William Kime O-05 Admiral 01990-05-31 May 31, 1990 01994-06-01 June 1, 1994
20 KramekRobert E. Kramek O-05 Admiral 01994-06-01 June 1, 1994 01998-05-30 May 30, 1998
21 LoyJames Loy O-05 Admiral 01998-05-30 May 30, 1998 02002-05-30 May 30, 2002
22 CollinsThomas H. Collins O-05 Admiral 02002-05-30 May 30, 2002 02006-05-25 May 25, 2006
23 AllenThad W. Allen O-05 Admiral 02006-05-25 May 25, 2006 02010-05-25 May 25, 2010
24 PappRobert J. Papp, Jr. O-05 Admiral 02010-05-25 May 25, 2010 Incumbent

References

  1. ^ "Commandants of the U.S. Coast Guard & Chiefs of the Revenue Marine Division". http://www.uscg.mil/history/FAQS/comm.asp. Retrieved 2011-02-10. 
  2. ^ "United States Coast Guard History". http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/Traditions.asp. Retrieved 2009-01-28. 
  3. ^ Bertholf was reappointed Commandant following the merger of the Revenue Cutter Service into the newly formed Coast Guard
  4. ^ Appointed Commandant as Rear Admiral. Appointed Full Admiral April 4, 1945. First officer to attain ranks of Vice Admiral and Admiral.
  5. ^ Appointed as a Vice Admiral; Received his fourth star on June 1, 1960 by act of Public Law 86-474, under which all Coast Guard Commandants thereafter are appointed to the grade of Admiral.

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