Vice Admiral Tom Allan assumed the duties of Acting Vice Commandant on July 3, 2025. As the Acting Vice Service Chief, he advances the Commandant’s strategic vision and directs internal governance of the U.S. Coast Guard, the 56,000 person-strong military service and law enforcement agency that conducts operations to control, secure, defend the U.S. border and maritime approaches, facilitates commerce, and successfully responds to a crisis or contingency.
Vice Admiral Allan most recently served as the Acting Deputy Commandant for Operations (DCO) responsible for the development of operational strategy, policy, guidance, and resources that address national priorities. This oversight of Coast Guard missions, programs, and services includes: intelligence; international affairs; cyber; the maritime transportation system; commercial regulations and inspections; search and rescue; maritime security; law enforcement; defense operations; environmental response; contingency planning; and the operational capabilities of cutter, boat, aviation, shore, and deployable specialized forces.
Vice Admiral Allan’s previous Flag assignments also include: Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, where he oversaw the 17,000-person organization that delivers the people and systems that enable the Coast Guard to perform its operational missions through all facets of mission support; Director of Operations (J3), U.S. Southern Command, where he oversaw all operations, activities, and investments within the vast area of responsibility encompassing 31 countries and 12 dependencies and areas of special sovereignty; Commander, First Coast Guard District, where he oversaw all Coast Guard missions across eight states in the Northeast, including over 2,000 miles of coastline from the U.S.-Canadian border to northern New Jersey and 1,300 miles offshore; Assistant Commandant for Resources and Chief Financial Officer for the U.S. Coast Guard (CG-8) where he was responsible for all budgetary, financial and resource management activities relating to the programs and operations of the Coast Guard.
Vice Admiral Allan is a career operations ashore officer with tours across multiple units with a concentration in boat forces operations. A native of Bowie, Maryland, Vice Admiral Allan earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Baltimore, and completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI. He has earned numerous personal, team, and campaign awards during 35 years of service.
Vice Admiral Allan is married to the former Kim Mulford from North Stonington, Connecticut. They have four children and three grandchildren.