Adm. Kevin Lunday will be nominated to serve as the 28th commandant of the Coast Guard, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Wednesday at the service academy’s 144th commencement in New London, Conn.
Lunday will continue serving as acting commandant until confirmed by the Senate. He has been serving in that role since January.
“Now is the time for fundamental change,” said Lunday. “Secretary Noem has said that we must reinvigorate the Coast Guard or risk strategic failure. I am honored to lead our Coast Guard men and women in this historic effort to renew the service for the future.”
During the ceremony, he said, “this is the most consequential time for the Coast Guard.”
Noem also announced during the commencement that Vice Adm. Thomas Allan, acting deputy commandant for operations, will be nominated for a fourth star to become the vice commandant.
Earlier in her presentation, Noem said the administration would begin implementing “Force Design 2028,” which she described as a “roadmap to revolutionize the Coast Guard.”
Force Design 2028 focuses on people; organization; acquisition; contracting and technology.
The Force Design 2028 organization strategy calls for the creation of a service secretary reporting to the secretary of homeland security. All of the armed forces in the Department of Defense already have civilian service secretaries. When the Coast Guard is operated with the Navy, the secretary would advise its secretary on Coast Guard matters.
Before making the leadership announcements, Noem said, “We will reorganize the service, and we’re going to be more effective and capable in ensuring that the Coast Guard will always be ready to beat the challenges of the 21st century.”
Force Design 2028 also calls for establishing a headquarters director of staff responsible for streamlining executive decision-making who would report to the vice commandant, enhancing agility and integration, aligning strategic messaging, and optimizing HQ processes.
The secretary said she told President Donald Trump during a recent meeting, “They need everything” to raise readiness levels in the Coast Guard. Noem noted recruiting has picked up in the past year. So far this year 4,700 people have enlisted – an increase of 1,200 over this time last year.
According to the executive summary of the new force design, Noem would grow the service’s workforce by 15,000 members.
Noem added that the service will reduce the number of its admirals by 25 percent, “so that we can return the decision making to the front line where it belongs.” She also told the crowd the service will prioritize a more efficient system and new technologies.
USNI News data shows the Coast Guard has 46 flag officers — 43 active flags and three reserve. A 25 percent reduction in flag ranks would be about 12 officers.
At Noem’s direction, the Coast Guard also canceled the results of the last one-star admiral promotion board announced last year, which would have promoted six Coast Guard captains to flag officers.
Cuts are expected to be made by Jan. 1.
“We’re going to build a more agile, capable and responsive fighting force to do this. We will improve training systems, will boost access to medical care, modernize both the Coast Guard Reserve and the civilian management system,” Noem said.
