Kevin Lunday
Kevin Lunday | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2024 | |
| 28th Commandant of the Coast Guard | |
| Assumed office 18 December 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Linda L. Fagan |
| 34th Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard | |
| In office 13 June 2024 – 3 July 2025 | |
| President | Joe Biden Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Steven D. Poulin |
| Succeeded by | Thomas G. Allan Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kevin Eugene Lunday October 12, 1965 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Education | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Coast Guard |
| Years of service | 1987–present |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands |
|
| Awards | |
Kevin Eugene Lunday (born October 12, 1965)[1] is a United States Coast Guard admiral who has served as the 28th commandant of the Coast Guard since 18 December 2025 and as the acting commandant from 21 January 2025 to 18 December 2025. He previously served as the 34th vice commandant of the Coast Guard from 2024-2025 and as commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area from 2022 to 2024.[2][3]
A native of South Carolina, Lunday received his commission from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1987, where he graduated with a B.S. degree in marine engineering.[4] He holds a Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School, an M.S. degree in national security strategy from the National War College and is a distinguished graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff.[1]
Military career
Lunday served as the deputy for materiel readiness to the deputy commandant for mission support of the United States Coast Guard from 2020 to 2022. He also previously commanded the Coast Guard Fourteenth District (Hawaii and Pacific territories) from July 2018 to June 2020, Coast Guard Cyber Command from 2016 to 2018, and served as the director of exercises and training (J7) of United States Cyber Command from 2014 to 2016.[4][5][6][7][8] In March 2024, Lunday was nominated for promotion to admiral and appointment as vice commandant of the Coast Guard.[9]
In January 2025, Admiral Linda Fagan was relieved as commandant by President Donald Trump, and Lunday assumed her position in an acting capacity. Lunday's Senate confirmation as commandant was temporarily halted due to a controversial policy designating nooses and swastikas as "potentially divisive." The policy was later rescinded, and Lunday was confirmed as commandant in December 2025.[10]
Awards and decorations
Admiral Lunday earned the Coast Guard Judge Advocate General (CGJAG) Professionals qualification badge as well as both the Command Ashore and Command Afloat badges. [11]
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Ribbon with Gold Star
Defense Superior Service Medal Ribbon
Legion of Merit Medal Ribbon with three Gold Stars
Meritorious Service Medal Ribbon with two Gold Stars
Coast Guard Commendation Medal Ribbon with O Device and two Gold Stars
Coast Guard Achievement Medal Ribbon with O Device and Gold Star
Commandants Letter of Commendation Ribbon
Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation with Hurricane Device
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with Coast Guard Frame
Coast Guard DHS Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with Coast Guard Frame
D.O.T. Outstanding Unit Citation
Coast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbon with O Device and three Gold Stars
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with O Device
Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation with Silver Star and three Gold Stars
Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal Ribbon with Bronze Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Ribbon
Armed Forces Service Medal Ribbon
Humanitarian Service Medal Ribbon with Bronze Star
D.O.T. 9-11 Medal Coast Guard Ribbon
Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon
Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon with Bronze Star
Coast Guard Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with Expert E
Coast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with Sharpshooter S
References
- ^ a b "Pre-Testimony Questions for Kevin Eugene Lunday, USCG". U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. February 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ^ "PN2000 — Rear Adm. Kevin E. Lunday — Coast Guard, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. April 28, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ^ Seapower Staff (May 13, 2022). "Fagan Confirmed as Next Coast Guard Commandant". Seapower Magazine. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ a b "Rear Admiral Kevin E. Lunday". U.S. Coast Guard. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
- ^ Seapower Staff (April 30, 2020). "U.S. Coast Guard, Australia to Begin Officer Exchange Program". Seapower Magazine.
- ^ "New National Defense Strategy Requires Innovative Approaches". SIGNAL Magazine. February 7, 2018.
- ^ "Multimedia Release: Coast Guard 14th District holds change of command in Honolulu". GovDelivery. U.S. Coast Guard 14th District Public Affairs. July 20, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
- ^ Muir, Sara (June 23, 2020). "New commander at helm of Coast Guard 14th District". DVIDS. Honolulu, Hawaii. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
- ^ "PN1497 — Vice Adm. Kevin E. Lunday — Coast Guard". U.S. Congress. March 12, 2024.
- ^ "Coast Guard abruptly deletes swastika, noose entry from policy manual". The Washington Post. December 18, 2025. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
- ^ "Biography Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Acting Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
External links
- Media related to Kevin E. Lunday at Wikimedia Commons
- Appearances on C-SPAN