Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson last Friday said that Vice Adm. Paul Zukunft, the Coast Guard’s Pacific area commander, has been nominated by President Barack Obama to be the service’s next commandant following the retirement of current commandant Adm. Bob Papp on May 30.
Zukunft, a 37-year veteran of the Coast Guard, has served in various capacities including coordinating the federal response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. That effort included the direction of more than 47,000 responders, 6,500 vessels ad 120 aircraft, according to Zukunft’s biography.
Before becoming Pacific Area Commander, Zukunft served as the assistant commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship. He has also served at Coast Guard headquarters in other assignments including director of Response Policy and the assistant commandant for Capability.
Zukunft has also serviced as the commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District and director, Joint Interagency Task Force West. He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1977.