Coast Guard Vice Adm. Charles Michel was promoted to vice commandant of the Coast Guard during a ceremony at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Monday in Washington, D.C., according to a Coast Guard press release. As the Coast Guard’s 30th vice commandant, Michel will oversee Coast Guard operations, strategic development, organizational governance and management of the service’s 58,000 employees and 30,000 volunteers.

“I am humbled and honored to be given this important opportunity to further serve the American people and the men and women of the United States Coast Guard,” said Michel.  “I look forward to assisting the commandant in meeting the many challenges facing our nation and our service.”

In previous flag officer assignments, Michel served as deputy commander of U. S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area; director of Joint Interagency Task Force South; military advisor to the secretary of homeland security; and as the director for the Coast Guard’s governmental and public affairs directorate.

Tours afloat included command of the Coast Guard Cutters Resolute and Cape Current, executive officer of Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless, and deck watch officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter Decisive. Michel also served as chief of the office of maritime and international law in Washington, D.C., as a staff attorney at the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans, as head of the operations division for the office of maritime and international law in Washington, D.C., and as legislative counsel for the office of congressional and governmental affairs in Washington, D.C.

A native of Brandon, Florida, Michel graduated from the U. S. Coast Guard Academy in 1985. In 1992, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law.