Adm. Kevin Lunday to be tapped for job as Coast Guard’s commandant, DHS’s Noem says
The admiral’s nomination immediately received push back from a top Democratic senator overseeing the Coast Guard.
Then-Vice Adm. Lunday, Commander of Coast Guard Atlantic Area, speaking with the commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute, Lt. Cmdr. Ross, on Jan. 29, 2024, St. Petersburg, FL. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)
WASHINGTON — The White House will soon nominate Adm. Kevin Lunday, the Coast Guard’s acting chief, to become the service’s commandant, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said today.
Noem made the announcement during the graduation ceremony at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.
Lunday is the service’s confirmed vice commandant and has been its acting chief since January when the Trump administration fired Adm. Linda Fagan. He is a career judge advocate and has been in the Coast Guard for 38 years.
Noem also said Vice Adm. Thomas Allan, who is currently the acting deputy commandant for operations, will be nominated for his fourth star and to become the service’s permanent vice commandant.
Sen. Maria Canwell, D-Wash., the ranking member on a key Senate committee overseeing the Coast Guard, in a statement today indicated she has reservations about Lunday’s selection based on actions he has taken as acting commandant.
“The Coast Guard must move forward with the sexual assault and sexual harassment reforms and accountability measures that Admiral Lunday paused as Acting Commandant,” she said in a statement. “I am concerned that under his leadership the Coast Guard is redirecting people, ships and aircraft away from search and rescue, fishing vessel safety, and Arctic missions, which hurts our coastal communities and our maritime economy.”
His selection comes as the Coast Guard prepares to cut 12 flag officer positions.
“As part of Force Design 2028, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security has determined that there is redundant executive oversight in our force structure which hinders efficient decision making and service effectiveness,” reads a May 15 message to the service issued by Lunday.
“As a result, and consistent with similar efforts within the Department of Defense, the Secretary has ordered a reduction of no less than 25 percent of flag officer positions by [Jan. 1, 2026]. The positions to be eliminated and the plan to reorganize the flag corps will be announced in separate correspondence.”
USNI News first reported Lunday’s announcement about flag officer reductions.
