Rear Admiral Gordon G. Piché assumed the duties of Director of Personnel Management for the Coast Guard during the summer of 1996. As Director of Personnel Management, he is responsible for planning and administering the service-wide military and civilian personnel programs, including workforce management, compensation, Work-Life, Morale, Well-being and Recreation and the Coast Guard Exchange System.
Rear Admiral Piché graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1964 with honors. After graduating from the Academy, he initially served in engineering assignments aboard the cutters Duane, McCullouch and Mendota. Since leaving the University of Michigan in 1970, where he received Masters degrees in Naval Architecture/Marine Engineering Mechanics, Rear Admiral Piché has spent much of his career in the Coast Guard Marine Safety program, including assignments in the technical offices in New York City, Cleveland, Ohio and at Coast Guard Headquarters. In 1984, he was selected to manage the Fishing Vessel Safety Task Force to develop and implement the Secretary of Transportation's Initiative. Concurrently, Rear Admiral Piché served as Chief, Marine Technical and Hazardous Materials Division until 1988.
He commanded Marine Safety Offices in Cleveland, Ohio and Honolulu, Hawaii and chaired the Coast Guard Academy's Professional and Military Training Advisory Committee (PMTAC). He served as the Assistant Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy from 1990 until 1993. Prior to assuming his current duties, Rear Admiral Piché was the Commander, Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific (MLCPAC).
He is a life member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME). His personal decorations include two Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals and two Coast Guard Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbons.
Rear Admiral Piché was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and grew up in the seacoast town of Kittery, Maine. He is married to the former Jane G. They have two sons, James and George.