Lunday Sworn In As 28th Coast Guard Commandant

The U.S. Coast Guard held a formal swearing in and assumption of command ceremony January 15 for Adm. Kevin Lunday as the 28th commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard during an event at Coast Guard Headquarters. Lunday had been serving as the acting commandant since January 2025 and had previously served as the 34th vice commandant of the Coast Guard as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem joined senior Coast Guard leadership, members of the Joint Force and distinguished guests, including Jennifer Carpenter, president and CEO of the American Waterways Operators, in recognizing the transition of command and Lunday’s commitment to leading the service.

As commandant, Lunday will lead the service’s continued transformation through Force Design 2028, while strengthening operational readiness and supporting the Coast Guard workforce and their families. The Coast Guard was authorized almost $25 billion in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill, the largest single funding commitment in its history, providing mandatory funding for fleet modernization (icebreakers, cutters, aircraft), infrastructure upgrades and enhanced maritime surveillance.

“President Trump’s plan was simple when he became president of the United States,” Noem said. “He wanted to revitalize the Coast Guard, equip it with the best technology, ships and aircraft available and then recruit the men and women that were necessary to run it all. It’s a tall order, and it takes a special kind of leader to lead this team and make that a reality. With almost 40 years in the Coast Guard, and with command experience that has ranged from the Indo-Pacific to the Persian Gulf to cyberspace, Kevin Lunday was the man for the job. Congratulations, Admiral Lunday!”

Upon taking the oath of office, Lunday formally assumed the responsibilities of commandant and reaffirmed the Coast Guard’s role as an instrument of national power responsible for controlling, securing and defending the U.S. border and maritime approaches; facilitating the safe and secure flow of commerce vital to economic prosperity, strategic mobility and America’s maritime dominance; and responding to crises and contingencies that may come without warning.

“I am honored to assume command of the United States Coast Guard,” Lunday said. “Every day, Coast Guard men and women carry out missions that protect our homeland, secure our maritime borders, save lives and protect national security. I am humbled to serve alongside them while ensuring they have what they need to succeed – today and in the future.”

Featured image caption: Adm. Kevin Lunday speaks at the January 15 formal swearing-in and assumption of command ceremony where he was officially installed as the 28th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard)