Rear Admiral Michael N. Parks
Commander
Ninth Coast Guard District
Download
Rear Admiral Michael N. Parks assumes duties as the Ninth Coast Guard District, after serving as the Deputy Director of Operations for Headquarters United States Northern Command. The Directorate of Operations serves as the principal advisor to the U.S. NORTHCOM Commander on all operational matters, providing strategic guidance to plan and execute U.S. NORTHCOM missions within the area of responsibility; including land, maritime, and Homeland Defense air operations as well as Defense Support to Civil Authorities.
Rear Admiral Parks was previously assigned as the Chief of Staff for the United States Coast Guard Atlantic Area, an area that encompasses the eastern half of the world from the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf.Rear Admiral Parks is a 1982 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Government. In 1994 Rear Admiral Parks attended George Washington University, where he earned a Master of Public Administration degree. In 2004 Rear Admiral Parks was selected and attended the National War College in Washington, D.C., where he received a Master of Science in National Security Strategy and Policy. Rear Admiral Parks’ afloat assignments include serving as Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin, Charleston, S.C., Coast Guard Cutter Legare, Portsmouth, Va., Coast Guard Cutter Matagorda, Miami, Fla., and Coast Guard Cutter Point Divide, Newport Beach, Calif. Rear Admiral Parks also served as Executive Officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter Venturous, and Deck Watch Officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter Decisive, both home ported in St. Petersburg, Fla. Rear Admiral Parks’ staff and ashore assignments have included serving as the Chief of Response and Chief of Staff in the Coast Guard Ninth District in Cleveland, Ohio; Senior Operations Center Controller in 11th Coast Guard District in Long Beach, California; Aide to the Vice Commandant at Coast Guard Headquarters; Congressional Fellow for U.S. Senator John Breaux (D-LA) in Washington, D.C; and as Chief of the Coast Guard’s Command and Operations School at the Leadership Development Center at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. Rear Admiral Parks’ personal awards include three Legions of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, six Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbons and various service and unit awards.