Kevin Lunday

Kevin Lunday
Official portrait, 2024
28th Commandant of the Coast Guard
Incumbent
Assumed office
18 December 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byLinda L. Fagan
34th Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
In office
13 June 2024 – 3 July 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
Donald Trump
Preceded bySteven D. Poulin
Succeeded byThomas G. Allan Jr.
Personal details
BornKevin Eugene Lunday
(1965-10-12) October 12, 1965 (age 60)
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Education
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Coast Guard
Years of service1987–present
RankAdmiral
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 The policy was later rescinded, and Lunday was confirmed as commandant in December 2025.[10][11]

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. [12]

Personal decorations
Gold star
 Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal with gold star
Defense Superior Service Medal
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges
 Legion of Merit[13] with three gold stars
Gold star
Gold star
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.
 Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars
Silver block letter O
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
 Coast Guard Commendation Medal with three gold stars and operational distinguishing device
Silver block letter O
Gold star
 Coast Guard Achievement Medal with gold star and operational distinguishing device
Commandants Letter of Commendation Ribbon
Unit awards
Presidential Unit Citation (Coast Guard) with hurricane device
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
DHS Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with Coast Guard Frame
D.O.T. Outstanding Unit Award
Silver block letter O
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
 Coast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbon with O Device and three Gold Stars
Silver block letter O
 Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with O Device
Silver star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
 Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation with Silver Star and three Gold Stars
Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation Ribbon
Campaign and service medals
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 National Defense Service Medal with one bronze campaign star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Bronze star
 Humanitarian Service Medal Ribbon with Bronze Star
Service, training and marksman awards
D.O.T. 9-11 Ribbon Coast Guard
Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon
Bronze star
 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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "PN2000 — Rear Adm. Kevin E. Lunday — Coast Guard, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. April 28, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  3. ^ Seapower Staff (May 13, 2022). "Fagan Confirmed as Next Coast Guard Commandant". Seapower Magazine. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Rear Admiral Kevin E. Lunday". U.S. Coast Guard. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  5. ^ Seapower Staff (April 30, 2020). "U.S. Coast Guard, Australia to Begin Officer Exchange Program". Seapower Magazine.
  6. ^ "New National Defense Strategy Requires Innovative Approaches". SIGNAL Magazine. February 7, 2018.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ Muir, Sara (June 23, 2020). "New commander at helm of Coast Guard 14th District". DVIDS. Honolulu, Hawaii. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  9. ^ "PN1497 — Vice Adm. Kevin E. Lunday — Coast Guard". U.S. Congress. March 12, 2024.
  10. ^ "Coast Guard abruptly deletes swastika, noose entry from policy manual". The Washington Post. December 18, 2025. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  11. ^ "PN619 — Adm. Kevin E. Lunday — Coast Guard, 119th Congress (2025-2026)". www.congress.gov. December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  12. ^ "Biography Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Acting Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  13. ^ "Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Joanne S. Bass". United States Air Force. August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_E._Lunday