Vice Admiral Clifford I. Pearson
Chief of Staff
US Coast Guard
Download 
VADM Pearson assumed the duties as Chief of Staff, U.S. Coast Guard and Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C., in June 2008.
VADM Pearson’s previous assignment was the Assistant Commandant for Human Resources.
Prior Flag assignments include Commander, Maintenance and Logistics Command Atlantic, and Assistant Commandant for Command Control Communications and Computers (C4) and Information Technology and Chief Information Officer of the Coast Guard. Director of C4 Systems for the Coast Guard and Chief, Office of Telecommunications Systems. He also has served as Commanding Officer, Telecommunications and Information Systems Command, Alexandria, VA, and Chief, Office of Information Systems Architecture and Planning at Coast Guard Headquarters. He had tours as Commanding Officer, Communications Area Master Station Atlantic, Chesapeake, VA, Chief, Command, Control, Communications and Information Resources Management Staff at Fifth Coast Guard District in Portsmouth, VA, and Chief, Engineering Computer Center for the Office of Engineering in Coast Guard Headquarters. He was also a program analyst in the Programs Division in the Office of Chief of Staff Coast Guard Headquarters, Port Operations Officer, Marine Safety Office Cincinnati, OH and Port Safety Officer, Thirteenth Coast Guard District, Seattle, WA.
VADM Pearson graduated from Officer Candidate School in Yorktown, VA and was commissioned in 1973. He is a 1972 graduate of the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Physics. He holds an M.S. from the University of Maryland in Information Systems.
VADM Pearson has been awarded the Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (two awards), the Coast Guard Achievement Medal and the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation among other service medals and awards.