By THE ALASKA STORY
The US Coast Guard on Friday held a formal swearing-in and assumption of command ceremony for Admiral Kevin Lunday, marking his elevation to the 28th Commandant of the service, an event that follows high-profile visits to Alaska last summer that highlighted the state’s central role in Arctic and maritime security.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem joined senior Coast Guard leaders, members of the joint force and guests at Coast Guard Headquarters to recognize the transition of command and Lunday’s commitment to leading the service.
“President Trump’s plan was simple when he became President of the United States,” Noem said. “He wanted to revitalize the Coast Guard, equip it with the best technology, ships, and aircraft available, and then recruit the men and women that were necessary to run it all. It’s a tall order, and it takes a special kind of leader to lead this team and make that a reality.”
Lunday’s assumption of command comes months after he presided over two milestone commissioning ceremonies in Alaska as acting commandant in August 2025—appearances that underscored the Coast Guard’s growing Arctic focus.
In Juneau, Lunday commissioned the Coast Guard Cutter Storis, the service’s first new icebreaker in 25 years. The cutter strengthens Arctic and Alaskan operations spanning icebreaking, maritime safety and security, and environmental protection—capabilities that are increasingly vital as activity in northern waters expands.
The following day in Kodiak, Lunday commissioned the Coast Guard Cutter Earl Cunningham, a Fast Response Cutter home-ported in Kodiak. The vessel supports missions across the Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska and North Pacific, including border security, resource protection and crisis response. At the ceremony, Lunday emphasized the cutter’s role in defending Alaska’s maritime approaches.
In congressional testimony and public statements, Lunday has repeatedly highlighted Coast Guard priorities tied to operational control of U.S. borders and the vast maritime approaches surrounding Alaska, including responses to foreign military activity in the Gulf of Alaska and the broader Arctic region.
Lunday is a 1987 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy from South Carolina.
Upon taking the oath of office, Lunday formally assumed responsibility for leading the United States Coast Guard in the service’s role in securing US maritime borders, facilitating the safe flow of commerce and responding to crises without warning.
“Every day, Coast Guard men and women carry out missions that protect our homeland, secure our maritime borders, save lives and protect national security,” Lunday said in his remarks.
As commandant, Lunday will guide the service through Force Design 2028, focusing on operational readiness while supporting Coast Guard personnel and their families. The Coast Guard, he said, remains “Always Ready,” delivering mission excellence across the maritime domain.
