Misplaced Pages

Karl L. Schultz
26th Commandant of the Coast Guard
In office June 1, 2018 – June 1, 2022
President	Donald Trump Joe Biden
Deputy	Charles W. Ray Linda L. Fagan Steven D. Poulin
Preceded by	Paul F. Zukunft
Succeeded by	Linda L. Fagan
Personal details
Education	United States Coast Guard Academy (BS) University of Connecticut (MPA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Coast Guard
Years of service	1983–2022
Rank	Admiral
Commands	Commandant of the Coast Guard Coast Guard Atlantic Area Coast Guard Defense Force East Eleventh Coast Guard District Coast Guard Sector Miami USCGC Venturous USCGC Acacia USCGC Farallon
Battles/wars	Global War on Terrorism  • September 11 attacks
Awards	Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) Meritorious Service Medal (3) Coast Guard Commendation Medal (4) Coast Guard Achievement Medal (2)

Karl Leo Schultz is a retired United States Coast Guard admiral who served as the 26th Commandant of the Coast Guard from 2018 to 2022.

Early life and education

Schultz is a native of East Hartford, Connecticut. He graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He then earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Connecticut in 1992 and completed a one-year National Security Fellowship at the Kennedy School of Government in 2006.

Career

United States Coast Guard

Schultz's operational assignments include Commander, Coast Guard Sector 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 United States House of Representatives; Liaison Officer to the United States Department of State, Bureau of 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.

Schultz has served as Director of Operations (J3), United States Southern Command in Doral, Florida where he directed joint service military operations across the Caribbean Basin, Central and South America. Prior flag officer assignments were Commander, 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 the duties as Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area in August 2016. As commander, Schultz oversaw Coast Guard rescue and recovery efforts for hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate in 2017.

Commandant of the Coast Guard

On March 8, 2018, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced that President Donald Trump intended to nominate Schultz for the position of Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, succeeding Admiral Paul F. Zukunft. His nomination and promotion to admiral was confirmed by a voice vote of the United States Senate on May 9, 2018. Schultz relieved Zukunft on June 1, 2018.

Schultz failed to act on plans to share the findings with Congress, the Department of Homeland Security, and the public of an investigation into rape and sexual assault in the Coast Guard Academy. His tenure as commandant ended on June 1, 2022, and he retired later that day. His attendance at the 40th year reunion for the Coast Guard Academy Class of 1983 in the wake of the cover-up was concerning to some attendees. After listening to four women describe being sexually assaulted as U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets, members of the United States Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations probing a "culture of cover-up" vowed to hold past and current Coast Guard leadership accountable. "We're going to pursue those two individuals and others," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., chairman of the Subcommittee, referring to retired Admiral Karl L. Schultz, the former commandant of the Coast Guard, and his successor, the current commandant, Admiral Linda Fagan.

On 25 July 2024, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability investigating the Coast Guard’s mishandling of serious misconduct, including racism, hazing, discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and the failure to disclose internal investigations into those issues to Congress requested that Admiral Schultz participate in a voluntary transcribed interview. The Committee stated that "ne of the key questions the Committee is examining is the extent to which senior USCG leadership willfully concealed internal reports from Congress that would have informed policy changes needed to combat, and further prevent, future incidents of misconduct. As the Commandant of the Coast Guard during the finalization of , the Committee is interested in learning more about what actions you took to notify Congress or conceal misconduct. We believe that as the former Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, you have information that will assist us in fully understanding the extent to which USCG withheld these reports from Congress, how these incidents of misconduct were handled, and what actions USCG took regarding those responsible. We therefore request that you make yourself available voluntarily for a transcribed interview."

Awards and decorations

References

1. "Bulletin". 1995.
2. "PN1706 — Vice Adm. Karl L. Schultz — Coast Guard". U.S. Congress. March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
3. "Secretary Nielsen Statement on President Trump's Nomination of Vice Admiral Karl L. Schultz to be the Next Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard". DHS.gov. March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
4. "Vice Adm. Karl Schultz Nominated to be Next Coast Guard Commandant". USNI News. March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
5. "Event Information - Schedule of Events". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
6. ^ "Vice Admiral Karl L. Schultz". Department of Homeland Security. September 15, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
7. ^ "Commander, Atlantic Area – VADM Karl Schultz". www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
8. "Secretary Nielsen Statement on President Trump's Nomination of Vice Admiral Karl L. Schultz to be the Next Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard". Department of Homeland Security. March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
9. "PN1706 — Vice Adm. Karl L. Schultz — Coast Guard". U.S. Congress. May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
10. Werner, Ben (March 8, 2018). "Vice Adm. Karl Schultz Nominated to be Next Coast Guard Commandant – USNI News". USNI News. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
11. Hicken, Melanie (August 8, 2023). "Former Coast Guard head covered up secret investigation into sexual assaults at the Coast Guard Academy". CNN. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
12. Kime, Patricia (December 13, 2023). "'Culture of Cover-Up:' Senators Ratchet Up Pressure on Coast Guard After It Hid Report on Rapes, Sexual Assaults". Military.com. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
13. "You're invited! Change of Command and Change of Watch". United States Coast Guard. May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
14. "Event Information - Schedule of Events" (Press release). United States Coast Guard. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
15. Hallenbeck, Brian (October 21, 2023). "Schultz's presence at Coast Guard Academy homecoming said to roil some". New London Day. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
16. Blumenthal, Richard (September 14, 2023). "Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Opens Inquiry Into Coast Guard's Lack of Transparency on Sexual Assault Investigation". Senator Richard Blumenthal Press Release. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
17. Recchia, Frank (December 17, 2023). "Sen. Blumenthal continues to fight for survivors of Coast Guard Academy assault". News 12 Connecticut. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
18. Hallenbeck, Brian (December 12, 2023). "Senate panel to pursue Coast Guard leadership over academy sexual assault coverup". The New London Day. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
19. Hicken, Melanie (December 12, 2023). "'No consequences': Women testify about sexual harassment and assault at Coast Guard Academy". CNN. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
20. "Comer & Grothman Seek Testimony from Former U.S. Coast Guard Officials Related to Misconduct Investigation" (PDF). July 25, 2024.
21. "Vice Admiral Paul F. Zukunft United States Coast Guard Commander, Pacific Area Commander, Coast Guard Defense Force West" (PDF). United States Coast Guard. Retrieved May 7, 2014.

External links

• USCG Commandant profile

• Commandants of the United States Coast Guard
• Living people
• People from East Hartford, Connecticut
• Military personnel from Connecticut
• Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
• Recipients of the Legion of Merit
• First Trump administration personnel
• United States Coast Guard Academy alumni
• United States Coast Guard admirals
• University of Connecticut alumni