On July 30th, 2025, Rear Admiral Douglas Schofield assumed the duties & responsibilities of Acting Deputy Commandant for Operations (DCO) located at St. Elizabeth’s, Coast Guard Headquarters, in Washington, DC. In this role, he is responsible for the development of operational strategies, policy, guidance, and resources that address national priorities within US Coast Guard jurisdiction. This oversight of the Coast Guard missions, programs, and services includes intelligence, international affairs, cybersecurity, 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 cutters, small boats, aircraft, shore, and deployable specialized forces.
Rear Admiral Schofield most recently served as Commander of the Coast Guard Southeast District in Miami, Florida. He was responsible for all Coast Guard operations in the Southeast United States and the Caribbean Basin, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The area of responsibility encompassed an area of 1.8 million square miles and shared operational borders with 34 foreign nations and territories.
Rear Admiral Schofield, a native of Lancaster, PA, graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1991, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree with high honors in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. He also holds Master of Science degrees in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Engineering and Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received a DHS Program Manager Level III Certification in November 2009.
Rear Admiral Schofield was promoted to flag rank in 2019. As a permanent cutterman, he served aboard four cutters, including Student Engineer aboard USCGC RELIANCE (WMEC 615), Engineering Officer aboard USCGC LEGARE (WMEC 912), Executive Officer aboard USCGC ESCANABA (WMEC 907), and Commanding Officer aboard USCGC THETIS (WMEC 910).
His tours ashore include: Port Engineer and Executive Officer at Naval Engineering Support Unit Boston, MA; Offshore Patrol Cutter Program Manager’s Representative and Executive Officer of Project Resident Office Gulf Coast – Pascagoula, MS; Offshore Patrol Cutter Program Manager – Washington, DC; Commander, Surfaces Forces Logistics Center – Baltimore, MD; Assistant Program Executive Officer, Surface Programs – Washington, DC; Program Executive Officer and Director of Acquisition Programs – Washington, DC; and Assistant Commandant for Acquisition and Chief Acquisition Officer (CAO) – Washington, DC.