Kevin Eugene Lunday (born October 12, 1965) is a United States Coast Guard admiral who has served as the 28th commandant of the Coast Guard since 15 January 2026 and as the acting commandant from 21 January 2025 to 15 January 2026. He previously served as the 34th vice commandant of the Coast Guard from 2024 to 2025 and as commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area from 2022 to 2024.
A native of South Carolina, Lunday received his commission from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1987, where he graduated with a B.S. degree in marine engineering. He holds a Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School, an M.S. degree in national security strategy from the National War College at National Defense University and is a distinguished graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff.
Military career Lunday served as the deputy for materiel readiness to the deputy commandant for mission support of the United States Coast Guard from 2020 to 2022. He also previously commanded the Coast Guard Fourteenth District (Hawaii and Pacific territories) from July 2018 to June 2020, Coast Guard Cyber Command from 2016 to 2018, and served as the director of exercises and training (J7) of United States Cyber Command from 2014 to 2016. In March 2024, Lunday was nominated for promotion to admiral and appointment as vice commandant of the Coast Guard.
In January 2025, Admiral Linda Fagan was relieved as commandant by President Donald Trump, and Lunday assumed her position in an acting capacity. Lunday's Senate confirmation as commandant was temporarily halted due to a controversial policy designating nooses and swastikas from "symbols of hatred" to "potentially divisive". The policy was later rescinded, and Lunday was confirmed as commandant in December 2025. He assumed office as commandant on 15 January 2026.
Awards and decorations Admiral Lunday earned the Coast Guard Judge Advocate General (CGJAG) Professionals qualification badge as well as both the Command Ashore and Command Afloat badges. Personal decorationsCoast Guard Distinguished Service Medal with gold starDefense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with three gold starsMeritorious Service Medal with two gold stars Coast Guard Commendation Medal with three gold stars and operational distinguishing deviceCoast Guard Achievement Medal with gold star and operational distinguishing deviceCommandants Letter of Commendation RibbonUnit awardsPresidential Unit Citation (Coast Guard) with hurricane deviceJoint Meritorious Unit AwardDHS Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with Coast Guard FrameD.O.T. Outstanding Unit AwardCoast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbon with O Device and three Gold StarsCoast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with O DeviceCoast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation with Silver Star and three Gold StarsCoast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation RibbonCampaign and service medalsNational Defense Service Medal with one bronze campaign starGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalArmed Forces Service MedalHumanitarian Service Medal Ribbon with Bronze StarService, training and marksman awardsD.O.T. 9-11 Ribbon Coast Guard Coast Guard Special Operations Service RibbonCoast Guard Sea Service Ribbon with Bronze StarCoast Guard Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with Expert ECoast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with Sharpshooter S
References
External links