Midgette promoted to rear admiral in Cleveland ceremony

The Coast Guard’s chief of staff of the Ninth Coast Guard District, was promoted today to the rank of rear admiral lower half in a ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio. Rear Adm. Fred Midgette, a native of Virginia Beach, Va., was promoted from his previous rank of captain in a ceremony presided over by Rear Adm. Mike Parks, Ninth Coast Guard District commander.

In the Coast Guard photo below Admiral Midgette can be seen handing his new rank insignia to his daughter Maggie as his wife, Mary, removed his captain shoulderboards.

Prior to his current assignment as chief of staff of the Ninth District, which oversees Coast Guard missions in the Great Lakes region, Midgette served as commander of Coast Guard Sector Detroit.

He will depart the Ninth District later this year to assume the duties of Military Advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Midgette, a 1982 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Coast Guard Academy, a Master of Science in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

Coast Guard officers who attain the rank of rear admiral lower half and beyond are considered “flag officers.” Coast Guardsmen serving in those ranks – in order: rear admiral lower half, rear admiral upper half, vice admiral and admiral – make up less than one percent of Coast Guard officers.