# Charles D. Michel

Charles David Michel (born April 7, 1963) is a former United States Coast Guard admiral who last served as the 30th vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. He is the first vice commandant to hold the rank of admiral while in office. Originally a vice admiral when he assumed office on August 6, 2015, Michel was promoted to four-star admiral on May 24, 2016, when the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 elevated the statutory rank for the position to admiral. Michel is also the first career judge advocate in any of the armed forces to achieve four-star rank. Michel retired from the Coast Guard on May 24, 2018, after over 33 years of service.

## Early life and education

Michel was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, in 1963 and graduated from Brandon High School at Brandon, Florida in 1981. Michel graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a degree in marine engineering with high honors in 1985. He also graduated in 1992 summa cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law as the salutatorian and is a member of The Florida Bar.

## Career

Michel has served on four cutters including a tour aboard USCGC Decisive as deck watch officer, USCGC Dauntless as executive officer, and tours as commanding officer on USCGC Cape Current and USCGC Resolute. Other assignments have included a tour as staff attorney for the Eighth Coast Guard District at New Orleans, Louisiana and assignments at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. as head of the operations division the Office of Maritime and International Law and a later tour as chief of the same office. Michel also served a tour as legislative counsel for the office of congressional and governmental affairs. His flag assignments include director, governmental and public affairs, military advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security, director, Joint Interagency Task Force South, deputy commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, and deputy commandant of operations at Coast Guard Headquarters.

## Awards and decorations

| Badge | Cutterman Insignia (Officer) | Cutterman Insignia (Officer) | Cutterman Insignia (Officer) |
| 1st row | Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal | Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal | Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal |
| 2nd row | Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Legion of Merit with four gold award stars |
| 3rd row | Meritorious Service Medal with gold award star and Operational Distinguishing Device | Coast Guard Commendation Medal with "O" device | Coast Guard Achievement Medal with gold award star and "O" device |
| 4th row | Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon | Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation with "hurricane symbol" | Joint Meritorious Unit Award |
| 5th row | Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award | Coast Guard Unit Commendation with "O" device | Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with two award stars and "O" device |
| 6th row | Meritorious Team Commendation with three award stars and "O" device | Coast Guard "E" Ribbon with two award stars | Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation |
| 7th row | National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Humanitarian Service Medal |
| 8th row | Transportation 9-11 Ribbon | Special Operations Service Ribbon with four service stars | Sea Service Ribbon with two service stars |
| 9th row | Colombian Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with silver sharpshooter device | Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon |
| Badges | Commandant Staff Badge | Office of the Secretary of Homeland Security Identification Badge | Command Afloat Pin Joint Staff Identification Badge |

## Dates of rank

| Ensign | Lieutenant, Junior Grade | Lieutenant | Lieutenant Commander | Commander | Captain |
| O-1 | O-2 | O-3 | O-4 | O-5 | O-6 |
| May 22, 1985 | November 22, 1986 | May 22, 1990 | September 1, 1995 | October 1, 2000 | March 1, 2006 |
| Rear Admiral (lower half) | Rear Admiral (upper half) | Vice Admiral | Admiral |
| O-7 | O-8 | O-9 | O-10 |
| October 1, 2009 | July 1, 2012 | May 2, 2014 | May 24, 2016 |

## Personal life

In addition to his military awards, Michel was the American Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year for the Coast Guard in 1995, and the Judge Advocates Association Career Armed Services Attorney of the Year for the U.S. Coast Guard in 2000. Also, Michel has received the USCG Public Service Commendation certificate.