Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Moorlag, June 2, 2014 – Adm. Paul Zukunft released his Commandant’s Direction 2014 Friday upon relieving Adm. Bob Papp as the 25th Commandant of the Coast Guard.
The Commandant’s Direction is developed to guide the Coast Guard during the tenure of each commandant and is founded on the core principles of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty.
“Three guiding principles frame my direction for the Service over the next four years,” said Zukunft. “Service to Nation, Duty to People and Commitment to Excellence are principles that everyone in our service, from our senior leaders to the newest graduates of Cape May, can apply to their own unique role in the Coast Guard.”
Service to Nation
Service to nation is about placing service above self. It is the common thread that binds all Coast Guardsmen to the nation and to the communities in which they live. Through this service, the Coast Guard provides for the safety, security and stewardship of the nation’s waters by preventing dangerous or illegal activities from occurring, responding effectively to events when they happen, and fostering the resilience essential to safeguard America’s prosperity and security.
Duty to People
Although the Coast Guard relies on cutters, boats, and aircraft to operate in the maritime environment, it is the service’s people who deliver truly unique capabilities to the nation. By honoring the service’s duty to people, the Coast Guard is committed to upholding values which advance a professional working environment today and cultivate the workforce of tomorrow.
Commitment to Excellence
Excellence is the Coast Guard’s standard. The American public knows that when the Coast Guard is called into action, it will respond courageously and effectively. To do this, the Coast Guard must strive to achieve the highest standards of readiness, efficiency and proficiency – it must remain semper paratus – always ready. In all of the service’s endeavors, the Coast Guard will be committed to excellence and will serve the nation with humility, and with the teamwork, on-scene initiative, and bias for action that are part of the Coast Guard’s enduring legacy.
To download the Commandant’s Direction 2014 document, visit the senior leadership page.