Rear Admiral Peter J. Rots became Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans, April 29, 1986. After being promoted to the flag rank of rear admiral (lower half) on July 1, 1985, he served as Chief of the Office of Marine Environment and Systems at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington. During this time, he held a State Department appointment as head of the United States delegation to the International Maritime Organization Marine Environment Pollution Committee.
RDML Rots has served in a variety of operational, engineering and administrative assignments. He was selected to head a study group to establish an Office of Navigation at Coast Guard Headquarters in 1979. When the office commenced operations, RDML Rots was assigned as the first Deputy Chief, Office of Navigation. RDML Rots other assignments include Chief of Staff, Fifth Coast Guard District, Portsmouth, Va.; Chief, Aviation Technical Training and Executive Officer, Aircraft Repair and Supply Center, Elizabeth City, N.C.; and Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Air Station Detroit.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., in 1957. RDML Rots has also earned a Master’s degree in industrial administration from Krannert School of Business, Purdue University. He was graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, in 1979.
RDML Rots’ awards include four Meritorious Service Medals with the Operational Distinguishing Device, the Air Medal, the Coast Guard Commendation Medal and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal.
He is a Pittsburgh native and is married to the former Judith J. also of Pittsburgh. They have two children: David, a captain in the U.S. Army (aviation) and Susan, who resides in Cleveland.