Zukunft tapped as next USCG Commandant

VADM Paul F. Zukunft

MARCH 4, 2014 — In an all hands email to DHS personnel last week, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said that President Obama plans to nominate Vice Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, currently Pacific Area commander, to be the next Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.

“If confirmed,” wrote Secretary Johnson, “he will be a great leader for the future of the Coast Guard. As a 37 year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, he has demonstrated this leadership while serving in a number of different capacities, including coordinating federal response to the Deepwater Horizon Spill. During the response, Vice Admiral Zukunft directed more than 47,000 responders, 6,500 vessels and 120 aircraft as the Coast Guard worked to respond to and recover from the largest oil spill in U.S. history.”

Vice Admiral Zukunft currently commands U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, and is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and holds advanced degrees from the U.S. Naval War College and Webster University.