Organization, Coast Guard

Coast Guard headquarters is in Washington, D.C. The commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard is an admiral (a four-star equivalent). The vice commandant is a vice admiral (a three-star equivalent) and serves as acting commandant in the absence of the commandant. This entry discusses the organizational structure of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The deputy commandant for mission support (who oversees logistics, acquisition, and human resources) and the deputy commandant for operations (who oversees service operation policies) are also headquartered in Washington. The Force Readiness Command based in Norfolk, Virginia, is responsible for command training units, schools, and training centers.

The Coast Guard reorganized its operational structure in 2007. The U.S. Coast Guard’s operational force is now organized into the Atlantic and the Pacific commands. Each is commanded ...