Vice Commandant's Corner
Vice Admiral David P. Pekoske
Vice Commandant of the United
States Coast Guard
Vice Admiral David P. Pekoske assumed his duties as Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard on August 7, 2009. As second in command and Chief Operating Officer, Vice Admiral Pekoske executes the Commandant's strategic intent, manages internal organizational governance and serves as the Component Acquisition Executive.
Prior to this assignment, Vice Admiral Pekoske served as Commander, Pacific Area/Coast Guard Defense Forces West in Alameda, CA. He oversaw the operation of units performing missions in marine safety, maritime mobility, protection of natural resources, maritime security, homeland security and national defense in an Area of Operations encompassing over 73 million square miles throughout the Pacific Basin and Far East. Previous Flag assignments include Assistant Commandant for Operations at Coast Guard Headquarters and Commander of the First Coast Guard District/Maritime Defense Command One headquartered in Boston, MA.
Vice Admiral Pekoske was promoted to Flag rank in 2004 while serving as the Executive Assistant to the Commandant, a position he held from 2001 to 2004. From 1999 to 2001, he commanded Coast Guard Group/Marine Safety Office (now Sector) Long Island Sound, based in New Haven, CT.
His 32-plus year career has included a variety of operational and staff assignments and command of six Coast Guard operational units. He has served on the west, gulf and east coasts of the United States and on the Great Lakes. Vice Admiral Pekoske’s operational expertise is in the operations ashore community. His staff expertise is in strategic planning, program analysis and budget development.
Commissioned in 1977, Vice Admiral Pekoske has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering from the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. He is a 1989 graduate of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University with a Masters Degree in Public Administration. Vice Admiral Pekoske graduated from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Master of Business Administration Degree in 1997. He served as a member of the United States Coast Guard Academy Board of Trustees from 2006-2008.
His personal decorations include the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (2), the Legion of Merit (2), the Meritorious Service Medal (5), the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (2), the Coast Guard Achievement Medal (4) and the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation.
Vice Admiral Pekoske is the 26th Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.
NEWS RELEASE: U.S. Coast Guard Gets New Vice Commandant
Assignment of the Vice Commandant (14 USC 47 Sect 47)
The President may appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, one Vice Commandant who shall rank next after the Commandant, shall perform such duties as the Commandant may prescribe and shall act as Commandant during the absence or disability of the Commandant or in the event that there is a vacancy in the office of Commandant.
The Vice Commandant shall be selected from the officers on the active duty promotion list serving above the grade of captain.
The Commandant shall make recommendation for such appointment.
The Vice Commandant shall, while so serving, have the grade of vice admiral with pay and allowances of that grade.
The appointment and grade of a Vice Commandant shall be effective on the date the officer assumes that duty, and shall terminate on the date the officer is detached from that duty, except as provided in subsection (!1) 51(d) of this title.