Vice Adm. Karl L. Schultz speaking as commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area in July 2017 at the USCGC Benjamin Dailey commissioning ceremony in Pascagoula, Mississippi. (USCG photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Magee)

On Friday, June 1, Admiral Karl Schultz relieved Admiral Paul F. Zukunft as commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard during a military change-of-command ceremony at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

At the ceremony, Zukunft also retired from the Coast Guard after 41 years of service to the nation and received the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal from President Trump.

In a similar event held last month, Admiral Charles W. Ray relieved Admiral Charles D. Michel as vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. Michel, who retired from the Coast Guard after 33 years of service to the nation, received the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal from Zukunft.

About Admiral Karl Schultz:

Before assuming command of LANTAREA, Admiral Karl Schultz served as the director of operations (J3), U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Florida where he directed joint service military operations across the Caribbean Basin, Central and South America. His prior flag officer assignments include as commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District where he was responsible for multi-mission operations from California to Peru, and director of governmental and public affairs at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C., where he was responsible for external engagement with Congress, the media and inter-governmental entities.

Schultz assumed duties as commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area (LANTAREA) in August 2016, where he serves as the operational commander for all U.S. Coast Guard missions from the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf, spanning across five Coast Guard Districts and 40 states. In addition to his duties at Atlantic Area, he serves as commander of Defense Force East and provides Coast Guard mission support to the Department of Defense and Combatant Commanders. He concurrently serves as director of the DHS Joint Task Force East.

Previous operational assignments include sector command in Miami as well as command tours aboard cutters Venturous, Acacia and Farallon. Staff assignments include chief of the Office of Congressional and Governmental Affairs; congressional liaison officer to the U.S. House of Representatives; liaison officer to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; assignment officer at the Coast Guard Personnel Command, and command duty officer in the Seventh Coast Guard District Operations Center in Miami.

Source: U.S. Coast Guard

Adm. Chuck Michel speaks during the vice commandant change-of-watch ceremony at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on May 24, 2018. During the event, Adm. Charles Ray (right) became the 31st vice commandant of the Coast Guard. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick Kelley.)