Rear Admiral Paul F. Zukunft
Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety,
Security & Stewardship
United States Coast Guard
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Rear Admiral Zukunft assumed his current position as Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship in May of 2010. He is responsible for developing and promulgating national marine safety, security and environmental protection doctrine, policy, and regulations, as well as ensuring policy alignment throughout the federal government and with international maritime partners. In addition, he leads and oversees the important work of numerous federal advisory committees and international partnerships related to marine safety, security, and environmental protection.
He recently served as the Federal-On-Scene-Coordinator for the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf where he directed federal, state, local agencies in response efforts. His previous Headquarters Flag assignments included the Director of Response Policy and the Assistant Commandant for Capability. Rear Admiral Zukunft has also served as the Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District. His responsibilities as District Commander included command and control over all Coast Guard missions along the Pacific coast from California to Chile culminating in the removal of more than 120 tons of cocaine; 5800 lives saved; safety and security of three of our nation's top five port complexes; and implementation of the Transportation Worker's Identification Credential to more than 75,000 members of the maritime industry. Rear Admiral Zukunft's first flag assignment was as the Director, Joint Interagency Task Force West. In that capacity, he served as U.S. Pacific Command's executive agent for strategic planning and tactical execution of counter drug related activities throughout 41 countries and across more than 105 million square miles. He was promoted to Flag rank in 2006.
His senior staff assignments included Chief of Operations, Coast Guard Pacific Area and Chief of Operations Oversight, Coast Guard Atlantic Area where he directly supervised all major cutter operations in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. He also served as Chief of Staff, at the Fourteenth Coast Guard District in Honolulu.
Rear Admiral Zukunft has commanded six units and served extensively in the cutter fleet where he commanded the cutters CAPE UPRIGHT, HARRIET LANE, and RUSH. He also served as Chief of Port Operations, Marine Safety Office (now Sector) Corpus Christi where he supervised a $100M Superfund clean-up.
Rear Admiral Zukunft graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Government; from Webster University in 1988 with a Master of Arts degree in Management; and from the U.S. Naval War College in 1997 with a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Studies and International Affairs. He is a graduate of the Asia Pacific Center for Strategic Studies Executive Seminar and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government National Preparedness Leadership Initiative course.
Rear Admiral Zukunft is a native of North Branford, Connecticut. He wears the permanent Cutterman pin and his personal awards include the Department of Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2), Meritorious Service medal with "O" device (5); Coast Guard Commendation Medal (2) and Coast Guard Achievement medal with "O" device (2).
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