Adm. Paul F. Zukunft assumed command as the 25th commandant of the Coast Guard in late May, relieving Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr. “To the men and women of the Coast Guard, I'm humbled to stand before you as your 25th Commandant,” said Zukunft. “You embody the world's best Coast Guard.” Zukunft relocates to Coast Guard headquarters from Alameda, Calif., where he served as the Coast Guard Pacific Area commander since 2012. In this capacity, he was the operational commander for all Coast Guard missions from the Rocky Mountains west to the east coast of Africa. He will now lead the largest component of the Department of Homeland Security, comprised of 41,700 active duty, 7,800 reserve and 8,300 civilian personnel as well as more 31,000 volunteer Coast Guard auxiliarists. During the change of command ceremony, Papp received the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal from Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and the Defense Distinguished Medal from Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos.
