Charles Ray (admiral)

Charles W. Ray is a United States Coast Guard admiral who serves as the Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard starting May 24, 2018.[1] He previously served as the Coast Guard's Deputy Commandant for Operations.

Charles W. Ray
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Coast Guard
Years of service	1981–present
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	Pacific Area Commander Fourteenth Coast Guard District Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
Battles/wars	Iraq War
Awards	Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (5) Bronze Star Medal Meritorious Service Medal (2) Air Medal Coast Guard Commendation Medal (3) Coast Guard Achievement Medal

Early life and education

Ray is from Newport, Arkansas, and is a 1981 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy. After an assignment as a deck watch officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter Acushnet (WMEC-167), he was selected for Naval Flight Training and earned his wings in 1984.

Coast Guard career

Ray has served at six Coast Guard Air Stations from Alaska to the Caribbean. He was designated an Aeronautical Engineer in 1988 and has served as Engineering Officer at three stations and at the Aviation Logistics Center as the Program Manager for the development of the Coast Guard's Aviation Logistics Management System. He commanded Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, Puerto Rico from 2002 through 2005. During the course of his career he accumulated over 5,000 hours of helicopter flight time.

Ray's staff assignments include a tour as Chief of the Office of Performance Management at Coast Guard Headquarters followed by a tour as the Chief of Staff of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District. Ray earned a Master of Science degree in Industrial Administration from Purdue University and a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C.

On October 5, 2020, Ray tested positive for COVID-19. Other military leaders were quarantined as a result.[2]

As of April 6, 2015, Ray holds the title of Ancient Albatross, making him the longest currently serving Coast Guard Aviator. Ray is the 25th Coast Guard aviator to hold this title.[3]

Flag assignments

On May 24, 2018, Ray assumed the duties of the Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, the second-in-command of the United States Coast Guard.

Ray previously served the Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations from August 2016 to May 2018. In this capacity, he was responsible for the development of operational strategy, policy, guidance, and resources that address national priorities. This oversight of Coast Guard missions, programs, and services includes: intelligence; international affairs; cyber; the maritime transportation system; commercial regulations and inspections; search and rescue; maritime security; law enforcement; defense operations; environmental response; contingency planning; and the operational capabilities of cutter, boat, aviation, shore, and deployable specialized forces.

Ray's previous Flag Assignment was as the Pacific Area Commander. Prior to that he held Flag Assignments as the Deputy Pacific Area Commander, the Fourteenth Coast Guard District Commander, service with U.S. Forces Iraq as Director of the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission for the Ministry of the Interior, and as the Military Advisor to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Awards and decorations

Badge	Naval Aviator insignia
1st row	Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal	Legion of Merit with four gold award stars	Bronze Star
2nd row	Meritorious Service Medal with award star	Air Medal	Coast Guard Commendation Medal with "O" device and two award stars
3rd row	Coast Guard Achievement Medal	Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon	Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation with "hurricane symbol"
4th row	Joint Meritorious Unit Award	Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award	Coast Guard Unit Commendation with "O" device and four award stars
5th row	Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with "O" device and two award stars	Meritorious Team Commendation with three award stars	Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation
6th row	National Defense Service Medal with one service star	Iraq Campaign Medal	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
7th row	Humanitarian Service Medal	Transportation 9-11 Ribbon	Special Operations Service Ribbon
8th row	Sea Service Ribbon	Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with silver sharpshooter device	Expert Pistol Marksmanship Medal
Badge	Command Ashore Pin
Badge	Joint Staff Identification Badge

References

1. "PN1746 — Vice Adm. Charles W. Ray — Coast Guard". U.S. Congress. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
2. Starr, Barbara; Cohen, Zachary (6 October 2020). "Senior Pentagon leadership quarantining after exposure to coronavirus". CNN.
3. "Ancient Albatross | Coast Guard Aviation Association". Retrieved 11 January 2021.

Sources

• "Admiral Charles W. Ray". Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard. Retrieved 1 December 2019.

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN