Kevin E. Lunday, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) | Official Website
On Thursday, Admiral Kevin Lunday was sworn in as the 28th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard during a ceremony at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem led the ceremony.
Secretary Noem stated, “President Trump’s plan was simple when he became President of the United States. 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!”
Admiral Lunday said at the event, “I am honored to assume command of the United States Coast Guard. 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.”
As Commandant, Admiral Lunday will be responsible for overseeing global operations of the Coast Guard. This includes duties such as maritime law enforcement, border security efforts along U.S. coasts and southern border regions, search and rescue missions both domestically and internationally, defense readiness activities supporting national security objectives worldwide, as well as initiatives focused on cybersecurity.
Lunday is expected to lead ongoing transformation efforts under Force Design 2028—an initiative aimed at strengthening operational readiness and modernizing how missions are carried out—while continuing support for service members’ welfare.
In 2025 when serving as Acting Commandant, Admiral Lunday oversaw record-breaking achievements by the Coast Guard:
- Recruitment exceeded targets by reaching 121% of its annual goal with over 5,200 new members.
- Seizures of illegal narcotics increased by 200% since January 2025.
- The number of interdictions involving illegal immigration rose by 120%.
- The service reported saving nearly 5,000 lives.
These results were detailed in an initial update on Force Design 2028 released earlier today by the Coast Guard. The report outlines reforms implemented since January 2025 under President Trump’s administration and Secretary Noem’s leadership; it also notes a significant return on investment from these changes.
The Coast Guard states it is now better prepared than ever before to manage border control operations at sea and respond quickly to both national emergencies and international incidents while supporting economic activity through secure maritime trade routes.
