David Pekoske
Encyclopedia
David P. Pekoske is a retired U.S. Coast Guard
Vice Admiral
. He concluded his 33 years of active service in 2010 as the 26th Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
.
in New London, Connecticut
. He is a 1989 graduate of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University
with a Masters Degree in Public Administration. Pekoske graduated from the MIT Sloan School of Management
with an MBA Degree in 1997. He served as a member of the United States Coast Guard Academy Board of Trustees from 2006-2008.
His 33-year career has included a variety of operational and staff assignments and command of six Coast Guard operational units. He has served on the west, gulf and east coasts of the United States and on the Great Lakes. Pekoske’s operational expertise is in the operations ashore community. His staff expertise is in strategic planning, program analysis and budget development.
Pekoske served Executive Assistant to the Commandant from 2001 to 2004. From 1999 to 2001, he commanded Coast Guard Group/Marine Safety Office (now Sector) Long Island Sound, based in New Haven, Connecticut
.
. He oversaw the operation of units performing missions in marine safety, maritime mobility, protection of natural resources, maritime security, homeland security and national defense in an Area of Operations encompassing over 73000000 square miles (189,069,132 km²) throughout the Pacific Basin and Far East. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Commandant for Operations at Coast Guard Headquarters. From 2004 to 2006 he was Commander of the First Coast Guard District/Maritime Defense Command One headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
from August 7, 2009 to May 24, 2010. As second in command to Admiral Thad Allen and Chief Operating Officer, Vice Admiral Pekoske executed the Commandant's strategic intent, managed internal organizational governance and served as the Component Acquisition Executive.
(2), the Legion of Merit
(2), the Meritorious Service Medal
(5), the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (2), the Coast Guard Achievement Medal (4) and the Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
.
Advanced Boat Force Operations Insignia
Commandant Staff Badge
>
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
with gold award star
Legion of Merit
with gold award star
Meritorious Service Medal
with four gold award stars and the Operational Distinguishing Device
.
Coast Guard Commendation Medal with gold award star
Coast Guard Achievement Medal with three gold award stars
Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
. He concluded his 33 years of active service in 2010 as the 26th Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard
The Vice Commandant serves as the second-in-command of the United States Coast Guard.Since 1929, 27 officers have served as Vice Commandant, or, as the position was referred to before 1972, Assistant Commandant. The title of the position was changed effective October 2, 1972, pursuant to P.L....
.
Coast Guard service
Commissioned in 1977, Pekoske earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering from the United States Coast Guard AcademyUnited States Coast Guard Academy
Founded in 1876, the United States Coast Guard Academy is the military academy of the United States Coast Guard. Located in New London, Connecticut, it is the smallest of the five federal service academies...
in New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
. He is a 1989 graduate of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
with a Masters Degree in Public Administration. Pekoske graduated from the MIT Sloan School of Management
MIT Sloan School of Management
The MIT Sloan School of Management is the business school of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
with an MBA Degree in 1997. He served as a member of the United States Coast Guard Academy Board of Trustees from 2006-2008.
His 33-year career has included a variety of operational and staff assignments and command of six Coast Guard operational units. He has served on the west, gulf and east coasts of the United States and on the Great Lakes. Pekoske’s operational expertise is in the operations ashore community. His staff expertise is in strategic planning, program analysis and budget development.
Pekoske served Executive Assistant to the Commandant from 2001 to 2004. From 1999 to 2001, he commanded Coast Guard Group/Marine Safety Office (now Sector) Long Island Sound, based in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
.
Flag assignments
Vice Admiral Pekoske served as Commander, Pacific Area/Coast Guard Defense Forces West in Alameda, CaliforniaAlameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
. He oversaw the operation of units performing missions in marine safety, maritime mobility, protection of natural resources, maritime security, homeland security and national defense in an Area of Operations encompassing over 73000000 square miles (189,069,132 km²) throughout the Pacific Basin and Far East. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Commandant for Operations at Coast Guard Headquarters. From 2004 to 2006 he was Commander of the First Coast Guard District/Maritime Defense Command One headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
Vice-Commandant
Vice Admiral Pekoske served as Vice Commandant of the United States Coast GuardVice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard
The Vice Commandant serves as the second-in-command of the United States Coast Guard.Since 1929, 27 officers have served as Vice Commandant, or, as the position was referred to before 1972, Assistant Commandant. The title of the position was changed effective October 2, 1972, pursuant to P.L....
from August 7, 2009 to May 24, 2010. As second in command to Admiral Thad Allen and Chief Operating Officer, Vice Admiral Pekoske executed the Commandant's strategic intent, managed internal organizational governance and served as the Component Acquisition Executive.
Awards
His personal decorations include the Coast Guard Distinguished Service MedalCoast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard that was created in August 1949 by order of the United States Congress. Prior to this date, members of the Coast Guard were eligible to receive the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.The Coast Guard...
(2), the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(2), the Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
(5), the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (2), the Coast Guard Achievement Medal (4) and the Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
The Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon is the highest personal ribbon award of the United States Coast Guard. The decoration was established in March 1979 by Admiral John B. Hayes....
.
Commandant Staff Badge
Commandant Staff Badge
The Commandant Staff Badge is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which has been in existence since the 1960s. The badge is permanently awarded to any member of the Coast Guard who serves on the full time staff of the Commanding Admiral and Commandant of the Coast Guard.See also:...
>
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard that was created in August 1949 by order of the United States Congress. Prior to this date, members of the Coast Guard were eligible to receive the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.The Coast Guard...
with gold award star
Award star
An award star is a decoration issued to personnel of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in lieu of multiple awards of the same award. An award star is very similar to an oak leaf cluster, which serves the same purpose in the United States Army and United States Air Force...
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with gold award star
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with four gold award stars and the Operational Distinguishing Device
Operational Distinguishing Device
The Operational Distinguishing Device is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which may be awarded as an attachment to certain personal and unit awards. The device is awarded as a silver "O" device, either centered on the award ribbon or to the middle-right if there are an even number of...
.
Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
The Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon is the highest personal ribbon award of the United States Coast Guard. The decoration was established in March 1979 by Admiral John B. Hayes....