David Pekoske

David P. Pekoske is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral. He concluded his 33 years of active service in 2010 as the 26th Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard.

Coast Guard service
Commissioned in 1977, Pekoske earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering from the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. He is a 1989 graduate of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University with a Masters Degree in Public Administration. Pekoske graduated from the MIT Sloan School of Management with an MBA Degree in 1997. He served as a member of the United States Coast Guard Academy Board of Trustees from 2006-2008.

His 33-year career has included a variety of operational and staff assignments and command of six Coast Guard operational units. He has served on the west, gulf and east coasts of the United States and on the Great Lakes. Pekoske’s operational expertise is in the operations ashore community. His staff expertise is in strategic planning, program analysis and budget development.

Pekoske served Executive Assistant to the Commandant from 2001 to 2004. From 1999 to 2001, he commanded Coast Guard Group/Marine Safety Office (now Sector) Long Island Sound, based in New Haven, Connecticut.

Flag assignments
Vice Admiral Pekoske served as Commander, Pacific Area/Coast Guard Defense Forces West in Alameda, California. He oversaw the operation of units performing missions in marine safety, maritime mobility, protection of natural resources, maritime security, homeland security and national defense in an Area of Operations encompassing over 73000000 sqmi throughout the Pacific Basin and Far East. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Commandant for Operations at Coast Guard Headquarters. From 2004 to 2006 he was Commander of the First Coast Guard District/Maritime Defense Command One headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Vice-Commandant
Vice Admiral Pekoske served as Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from August 7, 2009 to May 24, 2010. As second in command to Admiral Thad Allen and Chief Operating Officer, Vice Admiral Pekoske executed the Commandant's strategic intent, managed internal organizational governance and served as the Component Acquisition Executive.

Awards
His personal decorations include the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (2), the Legion of Merit (2), the Meritorious Service Medal (5), the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (2), the Coast Guard Achievement Medal (4) and the Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon.