# James Loy

James Milton Loy (born August 10, 1942) is a retired admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the acting U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security in 2005 and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) from November 4, 2003, to March 1, 2005. Prior to his appointment as deputy secretary, he served as the second administrator of the Transportation Security Administration from 2002 to 2003, and before that as the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard from 1998 to 2002. Also in 2004, Loy was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.

## Early life and education

Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Loy earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America as a youth and was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award as an adult. Loy entered the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1960. Subsequently, he earned master's degrees in history and government from Wesleyan University, and in Public Administration from University of Rhode Island.

## Career

Loy served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, served in combat as commanding officer of patrol boat USCGC Point Lomas during the Vietnam War, and eventually rose to the rank of admiral. In May 1998, Loy became the twenty first Commandant of the Coast Guard, serving in that post until 2002.
As the USCG Commandant, Loy reacted to the September 11 attacks of 2001. In the short term, he supervised the resumption of sea-borne trade throughout the U.S., after the USCG had shut down most major ports after the attacks. In the long term, Loy led the U.S. delegation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and was instrumental in ensuring that the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code was approved and implemented in 2002. The code came into effect in 2004.
In May 2002, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Norman Mineta, appointed Loy to become the Deputy Undersecretary for the newly formed Transportation Security Administration. Loy led the agency through its creation and subsequent incorporation into the Department of Homeland Security.
On October 23, 2003, Loy was nominated as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security by U.S. President George W. Bush, and sworn in on November 4, 2003. Following the departure of Tom Ridge, Loy filled in as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security from February 1, 2005, until February 15, 2005, when Michael Chertoff was confirmed and sworn into office. Joining the exodus of leadership, Loy resigned as Deputy Secretary, effective March 1, 2005.
On April 7, 2005, the Cohen Group announced that Loy had joined the firm as a Senior Counselor, effective April 18. On August 5, 2005, Loy joined the Board of Directors for Lockheed Martin.
In the fall of 2006 it was announced that Loy was being honored as the first Chair of the Tyler Institute for Leadership at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. As such Loy has played a significant role in speaking and drawing other distinguished visitors to the Academy. His first class was designed to teach a select group of cadets about the international shipping industry and how it might be secured.
In March 2007, The Washington Post had a feature on Loy and his relation to the U.S. Coast Guard's Deepwater contract, which was awarded to Lockheed Martin in summer of 2002. When asked by the Washington Post if he ever faced improper influence on Deepwater decisions while serving as the USCG Commandant, Loy said: "The question is almost insulting. I will pass on giving you any kind of answer."

## Personal

In the 2024 United States presidential election, Loy endorsed Kamala Harris.

## Awards and decorations

| Badge | Cutterman Insignia | Cutterman Insignia | Cutterman Insignia |
| 1st row | Transportation Distinguished Service Medal | | Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal with three gold award stars |
| 2nd row | Defense Superior Service Medal | Legion of Merit with one award star | Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device |
| 3rd row | Meritorious Service Medal | Coast Guard Commendation Medal with four award stars and "O" device | Coast Guard Achievement Medal |
| 4th row | Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award |
| 5th row | Coast Guard Unit Commendation with 2 award stars and "O" device | Navy Unit Commendation | Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with 2 award stars and "O" device |
| 6th row | Meritorious Team Commendation | Coast Guard "E" Ribbon | Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation |
| 7th row | National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars | Vietnam Service Medal with two service stars | Humanitarian Service Medal with one service star |
| 8th row | Special Operations Service Ribbon | Sea Service Ribbon with three service stars | Restricted Duty Ribbon |
| 9th row | Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Commander with Star | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation |
| 10th row | Vietnam Campaign Medal | Expert Rifle Marksmanship Medal | Expert Pistol Marksmanship Medal |
| Badge | Commandant Staff Badge | Commandant Staff Badge | Commandant Staff Badge |
* Admiral Loy is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

## Post career activities

In 2020, Loy, along with over 130 other former Republican national security officials, signed a statement that asserted that President Trump was unfit to serve another term, and "To that end, we are firmly convinced that it is in the best interest of our nation that Vice President Joe Biden be elected as the next President of the United States, and we will vote for him."
In July 2022, Loy joined with other former U.S. military leaders in condemning former president and commander in chief, Donald Trump. "While rioters tried to thwart the peaceful transfer of power and ransacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the president and commander in chief, Donald Trump, abdicated his duty to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.