Paul F. Zukunft

Paul Zukunft
Born (1955-01-30) January 30, 1955
North Branford, Connecticut, U.S.
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Coast Guard
Years of service 1977–present
Rank Admiral
Commands held Commandant of the Coast Guard
Coast Guard Pacific Area
Eleventh Coast Guard District
Joint Interagency Task Force West
USCGC Rush (WHEC-723)
USCGC Harriet Lane (WMEC-903)
USCGC Cape Upright (WPB-95303)
Battles/wars Global War on Terrorism
  September 11 attacks
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Awards Cutterman Insignia
Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Coast Guard Commendation Medal
Coast Guard Achievement Medal

Paul F. Zukunft (born January 30, 1955) is a United States Coast Guard admiral and the current Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 25th Commandant of the Coast Guard, with the rank of admiral, in May 2014 and relieved Admiral Robert Papp as the 25th Commandant of the Coast Guard on 30 May 2014.[1] Prior to his selection as Commandant, he served as Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area.[2] In this position, Zukunft was the operational commander for all U.S. Coast Guard missions within the half of the world that ranges from the Rocky Mountains to the waters off the East Coast of Africa. He concurrently served as Commander, Defense Force West and provided U.S. Coast Guard mission support to the U.S. Department of Defense and Combatant Commanders.

Previous flag assignments include The Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship; Director of Response Policy, Assistant Commandant for Capability; Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District; and Director, Joint Interagency Task Force West; Federal Onscene Deepwater Horizon Unified Command, and the Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area.

Zukunft wears the permanent Cutterman Insignia and is a certified NIMS ICS Type I Incident Commander. His personal awards include the Department of Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal, Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, three Legion of Merit, and five Meritorious Service Medals with "O" device among others.[3]

Early life and education

Zukunft was born in 1955 and is a native of North Branford, Connecticut. He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Government. He attended Webster University in 1988 where he received his Master of Arts degree in Management, and the U.S. Naval War College in 1997 graduating with a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He is a graduate of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies Executive Seminar and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government National Preparedness Leadership Initiative course.[3]

Career

U.S. Coast Guard

Zukunft was promoted to flag rank in 2006. His six previous flag assignments also include The Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship; Director of Response Policy, Assistant Commandant for Capability; Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District[4] and Director, Joint Interagency Task Force West. Additionally, Zukunft served as the Federal On-Scene Coordinator for the Deepwater Horizon Spill of National Significance in 2010, and directed more than 47,000 responders, 6,500 vessels and 120 aircraft during one of the largest oil spills in U.S. history.[5]

Zukunft has served at sea, commanding the USCGC Rush, USCGC Harriet Lane, and the USCGC Cape Upright. Zukunft’s senior staff assignments include Chief of Operations, Coast Guard Pacific Area and Chief of Operations Oversight, Coast Guard Atlantic Area where he directly supervised all major cutter operations in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. He also served as the Chief of Staff of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District in Honolulu.[6]

Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard

On February 28, 2014, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced that U.S. President Obama intended to nominate Zukunft for the position of Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, succeeding Admiral Robert Papp.[7] He was confirmed by the Senate on May 15, 2014, and frocked to admiral the same day. He assumed the office of Commandant on May 30, 2014.

Awards and decorations

Bronze star
Bronze star

Bronze star
Bronze star

Bronze star

Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star

Badge
Cutterman Insignia[3]
1st row
Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal[3]
2nd row
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal[3]
Defense Superior Service Medal[3]
Legion of Merit with two gold award stars[3]
3rd row
Meritorious Service Medal with four gold award stars and "O" device[3]
Coast Guard Commendation Medal with one gold award star[3]
Coast Guard Achievement Medal with gold award star and "O" device[3]
4th row
Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation with "hurricane symbol"[3]
Joint Meritorious Unit Award[3]
Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award[3]
5th row
Coast Guard Unit Commendation with one award star and "O" device[3]
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with silver and gold award star and "O" device[3]
Coast Guard "E" Ribbon with award star[3]
6th row
Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation[3]
National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars[3]
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal[3]
7th row
Humanitarian Service Medal with two service stars[3]
Transportation 9-11 Ribbon[3]
Special Operations Service Ribbon with one service star[3]
8th row
Sea Service Ribbon with three service stars[3]
Rifle Marksmanship Medal with silver expert device[3]
Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon[3]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paul F. Zukunft.
Military offices
Preceded by
Robert Papp
Commandant of the Coast Guard
2014–present
Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded by
Robert Neller
as Commandant of the Marine Corps
Order of Precedence of the United States
as Commandant of the Coast Guard
Succeeded by
David Rodriguez
as Commander of United States Africa Command
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