Paul F. Zukunft

Paul Zukunft
25th Commandant of the Coast Guard
In office
30 May 2014 – 1 June 2018
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
DeputyPeter V. Neffenger
Charles D. Michel
Charles W. Ray
Preceded byRobert J. Papp Jr.
Succeeded byKarl L. Schultz
Personal details
Born (1955-01-30) 30 January 1955 (age 69)
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Alma materU.S. Coast Guard Academy
Webster University
Naval War College
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Coast Guard
Years of service1977–2018
RankAdmiral
CommandsCommandant of the Coast Guard
Coast Guard Pacific Area
Eleventh Coast Guard District
Joint Interagency Task Force West
USCGC Rush
USCGC Harriet Lane
USCGC Cape Upright
Battles/warsGlobal War on Terrorism
AwardsCutterman Insignia
Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Coast Guard Commendation Medal
Coast Guard Achievement Medal

Paul Frederick Zukunft (born 30 January 1955) is a retired admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 25th commandant. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Commandant, with the rank of admiral, in May 2014 and relieved Robert J. Papp Jr. as commandant 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]

  1. ^ "Zukunft Confirmed as 25th Coast Guard Commandant". military.com. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  2. ^ "United States Coast Guard (USCG) - Pacific Area".
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference officialbio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).