Vice Admiral James D. Hull assumed command of Coast Guard Atlantic Area on May 14, 2002. He is the operational commander for all Coast Guard activities in an area of responsibility spanning five Coast Guard Districts, over 14 million square miles, involving 33,248 military and civilian employees, and 30,285 auxiliarists. He serves concurrently as Commander U.S. Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic.
In alignment with the three watchwords of the Commandant’s Direction, “Readiness, People and Stewardship,” Vice Admiral Hull developed his own leadership vision, “Mission Excellence, Not at the Expense of Our People, and Properly Supported.” In numerous visits throughout Atlantic Area, he has shared this Command Philosophy with several thousand Coast Guard men and women. His message is clear: to professionally conduct Homeland Security operations while still carrying out the other vital Coast Guard missions that both commercial and recreational mariners need. As the senior field commander in the Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Hull’s immediate focus includes protecting the vital ports, waterways and borders of the United States, supporting all military preparations required by the Department of Defense and as an integral member of the newly formed Department of Homeland Security.
Vice Admiral Hull’s first assignment was aboard the 378-foot Cutter RUSH, which saw action off the coast of Vietnam. His subsequent afloat tours include Commanding Officer of cutters RED BIRCH, ALERT and DALLAS. These assignments spanned all Coast Guard missions from law enforcement and counter-narcotics to search and rescue, aids to navigation maintenance and national defense on both the East and West Coasts, as well as in Vietnam, Europe and off the coasts of Cuba & Haiti during the migration crises of the last twenty years.
Vice Admiral Hull was an assistant professor of mathematics at the Coast Guard Academy and served as an assistant Dean of Academics for one year. His other ashore assignments include Chief of Operations and Chief of Staff for the Seventh Coast Guard District, and Washington, D. C. assignments in the Programming, Planning, and Budgeting Division, Chief of the Budget Execution and Analysis Branch, Chief of Congressional and Governmental Affairs and Executive Director for the U.S. Interdiction Coordinator. Vice Admiral Hull achieved flag rank in 1997; his first flag assignment was as Director of Operations Policy at Coast Guard Headquarters. In this position, he provided the guidance and leadership essential to maritime safety, maritime security and national defense. In 1999, Vice Admiral Hull was assigned as Commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District. Demonstrating a tireless commitment to excellence, he oversaw operational professionalism with his visionary Great Lakes Integrated Maritime Safety System Strategy, acclaimed Ninth District Hoax Task Force Report and Station (small) Study.
Vice Admiral Hull earned a Masters Degree in Operations Research and Statistics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York; a Masters of Business Administration from the University of New Haven, Connecticut; and is a graduate of the National War College in Washington, D.C.
Vice Admiral Hull’s awards include: five Legion of Merit Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, a Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, a Coast Guard Commendation Medal, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, a Coast Guard Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon, a Combat Action Ribbon and a Humanitarian Service Medal, among many others.
A native of North Ridgeville, Ohio, Vice Admiral Hull earned a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned an Ensign at the Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut in 1969.