The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(WASHINGTON) — Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen on Thursday announced the nomination by President Donald Trump of Vice Adm. Karl Schultz to be the 26th commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Schultz, the commander of the Coast Guard's Atlantic Area, currently serves as the operational commander for all Coast Guard missions from the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf, spanning across five Coast Guard districts and 40 states. Pending confirmation, he is expected to relieve Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Paul Zukunft in a change of command ceremony June 1 in Washington, D.C. Zukunft will retire following the change of command this summer.
"Vice Adm. Schultz will provide the sound leadership and steady hand needed to guide our global military service further into this dynamic and extraordinary era of our nation," said Zukunft.
Schultz has selected and the president has nominated Vice Adm. Charles Ray, the current deputy commandant for operations, as the Coast Guard's 31st vice commandant. Pending confirmation, Ray will relieve Adm. Charles Michel in a change of watch ceremony May 24 in Washington, D.C. Michel, the Coast Guard's first four-star vice commandant, will retire following the change of watch.
