ADM Karl Schultz, USCG (Ret.)
The 2023 awardee for Distinguished Sea Services Award Senior Officer is ADM Karl Schultz, United States Coast Guard,(Ret.).
Schultz is a native of East Hartford, Connecticut. He graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He then earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Connecticut in 1992 and completed a one-year National Security Fellowship at the Kennedy School of Government in 2006.
Schultz's operational assignments include Commander, Coast Guard Sector Miami as well as command tours aboard cutters Venturous, Acacia, and Farallon. Staff assignments include Chief of the Office of Congressional and Governmental Affairs; Congressional Liaison Officer to the United States House of Representatives; Liaison Officer to the United States Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; Assignment Officer at the Coast Guard Personnel Command, and Command Duty Officer in the Seventh Coast Guard District Operations Center in Miami.
Schultz has served as Director of Operations United States Southern Command in Doral, Florida where he directed joint service military operations across the Caribbean Basin, Central and South America. He subsequently was Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District in Alameda, California, where he was responsible for multi-mission operations from California to Peru. He then served as Director of Governmental and Public Affairs at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for external engagement with Congress, the media, and inter-governmental entities.
Schultz assumed the duties as Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area in August 2016. As commander, he oversaw Coast Guard rescue and recovery efforts for hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate in 2017.
On 8 March 2018, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced that President Trump intended to nominate Schultz for the position of Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, succeeding ADM Paul F. Zukunft. His nomination and promotion to admiral was confirmed by a voice vote of the U.S. Senate on 9 May 2018. As the twenty-sixth Commandant of the Coast Guard Schultz relieved Zukunft on 1 June 2018.
His tenure as commandant ended on 1 June 2022, when he was relieved by ADM Linda Fagan and he retired.
Admiral Schultz’s badges and awards include the following: Cutterman Officer Insignia, Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal, Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with three gold stars, Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars and “O” device, Coast Guard Commendation medal with three gold stars and “O” device, Coast Guard Achievement Medal with two stars and “O” device, Commandants Letter of Commendation Ribbon, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation with “hurricane symbol”, Joint Meritorious Uni Awards, Department of Homeland Security Outstanding Unit Award, Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award, Coast Guard Unit Commendation with four award stars and “O” device, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with three award stars and “O” device, Meritorious Team Commendation with three award stars, Coast Guard “E” Ribbon with three award stars, Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star, Global War on Terrorism service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal with two service stars, Special Operation Service Ribbon with two service stars, Sea Service Ribbon with three service stars, Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon, Pistol Marksmanship Medal with “Expert” device. Command ashore Device, Command afloat Device.