Vice Commandants

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VICE COMMANDANTS

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The Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard acts as the service’s second-in-command directly below the Commandant. Originally known as the Assistant Commandant, a change to Flag Officer structure in October 1972 retitled the position to Vice Commandant. A Vice Admiral normally filled this role; however, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 raised the statutory rank of the position to Admiral.

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VICE ADMIRAL RICHARD D. HERR
20th Vice Commandant
1996 - 1998
First Vice Commandant to have a personal challenge coin

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VICE ADMIRAL JAMES C. CARD
21st Vice Commandant
1998 - 2000

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VICE ADMIRAL THOMAS H. COLLINS
22nd Vice Commandant
2000 - 2002

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VICE ADMIRAL THOMAS J. BARRETT
23rd Vice Commandant
2002 - 2004

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VICE ADMIRAL TERRY M. CROSS
24th Vice Commandant
2004 - 2006

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VICE ADMIRAL VIVIEN S. CREA
25th Vice Commandant
2006 - 2009
● First woman to serve as Vice Commandant
● First woman to attain the rank of Vice Admiral in the Coast Guard
● First woman to attain Flag Officer rank in the Coast Guard
● First woman in the U.S. Armed Forces to serve as a Presidential Military Aide in 1984
● First woman to command a Coast Guard Air Station in 1992
● First woman to be recognized as the Coast Guard Ancient Albatross in 2008
● First Coast Guard Aviator to be inducted into the Women of Aviation International
Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2010

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VICE ADMIRAL DAVID P. PEKOSKE
26th Vice Commandant
2009 - 2010
(Version 1)

VICE ADMIRAL DAVID P. PEKOSKE
26th Vice Commandant
2009 - 2010
(Version 2)

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VICE ADMIRAL SALLY BRICE-O’HARA
27th Vice Commandant
2010 - 2012

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VICE ADMIRAL JOHN P. CURRIER
28th Vice Commandant
2012 - 2014
Late in his career, he was the Ancient Albatross in recognition of being the longest serving Coast Guard Aviator on active duty
(Version 1)

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VICE ADMIRAL PETER V. NEFFENGER
29th Vice Commandant
2014 - 2015
(2-1/4” diameter)

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ADMIRAL CHARLES D. MICHEL
30th Vice Commandant
2015 - 2018
● First Vice Commandant to hold rank of Admiral
● First Judge Advocate in any of the
U.S. Armed Forces to attain the rank of Admiral
(1-3/4” diameter)

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ADMIRAL CHARLES W. RAY
31st Vice Commandant
2018 - 2021
(2-1/2” H x 2” W x 3/16” thick)

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ADMIRAL LINDA L. FAGAN
32nd Vice Commandant
2021 - 2022
● First woman to attain the rank of Admiral in the Coast Guard
● First woman to serve as both Commandant and Vice Commandant
● Eighth woman to achieve 4-star rank in U.S. Armed Forces
● Coast Guard's First Gold Ancient Trident
(The Officer with the longest service in the Marine Safety field)
(2-1/2” W x 2-1/2” H x 1/4” thick)