Deputy Director of Operations
United States Northern Command
The Operations Directorate serves as the principal advisor to the USNORTHCOM Commander on all operational matters, providing strategic guidance to plan and execute NORTHCOM missions within the area of responsibility; including land, maritime, and Homeland Defense air operations as well as Defense Support to Civil Authorities.
Rear Admiral Colvin was previously assigned as the Chief of Staff for the Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area in Portsmouth, Va, an area that encompasses the eastern half of the world from the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf.
Rear Admiral Colvin’s afloat assignments include serving as commanding officer, USCGC DALLAS (WHEC 716), USCGC DILIGENCE (WMEC 616) and USCGC CAPE UPRIGHT (WPB 95303). Staff assignments have included serving as the Chief of Operations and Chief of Cutter Forces, Atlantic Area in Portsmouth; Chief Staff Officer and Coast Guard Liaison Officer at the U.S. Navy’s Afloat Training Group, Pearl Harbor, Hi; and Senior Rescue Coordination Center Controller, Pacific Area, in Alameda.
A 1979 graduate of Officer Candidate School, Rear Admiral Colvin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1976 and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island in 1999,
Rear Admiral Colvin’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and DOT 9-11 Medal.