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Karl L. Schultz

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Karl L. Schultz
26th Commandant of the Coast Guard
In office
June 1, 2018 – June 1, 2022
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
DeputyCharles W. Ray
Linda L. Fagan
Steven D. Poulin
Preceded byPaul F. Zukunft
Succeeded byLinda L. Fagan
Personal details
EducationUnited States Coast Guard Academy (BS)
University of Connecticut (MPA)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Coast Guard
Years of service1983–2022
RankAdmiral
CommandsCommandant 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/warsGlobal War on Terrorism
 • September 11 attacks
AwardsHomeland 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[1] is a retired United States Coast Guard admiral who served as the 26th Commandant of the Coast Guard from 2018 to 2022.[2][3][4][5]

Early life and education

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Schultz is a native of East Hartford, Connecticut.[6] 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.[6]

Career

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United States Coast Guard

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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.[7]

Schultz poses with Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf being recognized as the Coast Guard’s Service Secretary during a ceremony at Coast Guard Air Station Washington, D.C.

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.[7]

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.[7]

Commandant of the Coast Guard

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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.[8] His nomination and promotion to admiral was confirmed by a voice vote of the United States Senate on May 9, 2018.[9] Schultz relieved Zukunft on June 1, 2018.[10]

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.[11][12] His tenure as commandant ended on June 1, 2022,[13] and he retired later that day.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16] [17] "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.[18][19]

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 "[o]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 [Operation Fouled Anchor], 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."[20]

Awards and decorations

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Bronze star
Insignias Cutterman Officer Insignia
1st row Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal
2nd row Legion of Merit with three gold award stars Meritorious Service Medal with two award stars and "O" device Coast Guard Commendation Medal with three award stars and "O" device
3rd row Coast Guard Achievement Medal with award star and "O" device Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation with "hurricane symbol"
4th row Joint Meritorious Unit Award Department of Homeland Security Outstanding Unit Award Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award
5th row Coast Guard Unit Commendation with four award stars and "O" device Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with three award stars and "O" device Meritorious Team Commendation with three award stars
6th row Coast Guard "E" Ribbon with three award stars Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
7th row Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal with two service stars[21] Special Operations Service Ribbon with two service stars
8th row Sea Service Ribbon with three service stars Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon Pistol Marksmanship Medal with expert device
Devices Command Ashore Device Command Afloat Device

References

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  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. ^ a b "Vice Admiral Karl L. Schultz". Department of Homeland Security. September 15, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "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.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Karl L. Schultz.
Military offices
Preceded by Director of Operations of the United States Southern Command
2015-2018 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area
2016-2018 		Succeeded by
Director of the Homeland Security Joint Task Force - East
2016-2018
Preceded by Commandant of the Coast Guard
2018–2022 		Succeeded by
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