Rear Admiral Jeffrey M. Garrett

Upon graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1974, RADM Garrett was assigned to the commissioning crew of USCGC POLAR STAR (WAGB 10) as Communications Officer and deck watch officer. He served in the WIND-class icebreaker BURTON ISLAND (WAGB 283) as First Lieutenant and Navigator during three deployments to the Arctic and Antarctic. RADM Garrett subsequently served as Commanding Officer in USCGC MOBILE BAY (WTGB 103), a small icebreaker in the Great Lakes. His other afloat assignments include duty as Executive Officer in the medium endurance cutter USCGC ACTIVE (WMEC 618), and again in both Polar Regions while in POLAR STAR as Executive Officer. As Commanding Officer of USCGC POLAR SEA (WAGB 11) he completed three polar deployments to the Western Arctic and Antarctica.

RADM Garrett’s shore assignments include watch officer duties at Vessel Traffic Service Prince William Sound in Valdez, Alaska; in the Ice Operations Division at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters; and as a program reviewer in the Programs Division at Headquarters. RADM Garrett holds a Master of Science in Management degree from the Naval Postgraduate School. He was also a research fellow while attending the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (1992-93), followed by a return to Headquarters as Assistant Chief of the Programs Division. He also served as Chief of Operations for the Pacific Area.

RADM Garrett became the first Commanding Officer of USCGC HEALY (WAGB-20), the nation’s newest polar icebreaker and the Coast Guard’s largest cutter, upon delivery of the ship by Litton-Avondale Industries on November 10, 1999. He commanded HEALY through shakedown operations and ice trials in the Eastern Arctic in early 2000, followed by transit through Northwest Passage to homeport in Seattle.  Then onto Coast Guard Headquarters, where he served as the U.S. Coast Guard Director of Resources, responsible for the Coast Guard’s budget, long-range planning and policy development. He managed execution of the Coast Guard’s Operating Expense and Capital Asset appropriations and directed the performance program.

RADM Garrett’s military awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), USCG Commendation Medal (two awards), USCG Achievement Medal (two awards), Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation (two awards), Antarctic Service Medal (four awards), and Arctic Service Medal (five awards).