Rear Admiral Peter Gautier assumed the duties of Deputy Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area in July 2020. As Deputy Commander, he is responsible for all U.S. Coast Guard missions within a geographic region that spans from the Rocky Mountains west to the waters off the eastern coast of Africa.
Rear Admiral Gautier previously served as Commander, Coast Guard Eleventh District in Alameda, California from June 2018 to July 2020, where he directed all Coast Guard missions in California and the Eastern Pacific Ocean. During this assignment, he also served as Deputy Director for the Department of Homeland Security's Joint Task Force West, conducting integrated joint investigations and operations along the Southern border and approaches from Texas to California.
He previously served as the Director of Governmental and Public Affairs for the Coast Guard beginning in August 2014, where he was responsible for external engagement with Congress, the media and other intergovernmental entities. From May 2015 to July 2017 he served as the Senior Director for Response Policy on the National Security Council Staff, where he coordinated policy for all-hazards domestic incident management, national preparedness exercises, and continuity of government.
From June 2011 to July 2014 he commanded Sector New Orleans, directing all Coast Guard operations in southeast Louisiana, including the lower 300 miles of the Mississippi River. Prior to this, he served as the Chief of the Deepwater Horizon Action Office which oversaw policy resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, where he served for five months as the National Incident Command Chief of Staff. His other assignments include Chief of Operations for the Deployable Operations Group; Chief, Cargo and Facilities Division at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington DC; and Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Gulf Strike Team, Mobile, AL, where he responded in key roles in a number of major responses including the World Trade Center attacks, the Shuttle Columbia Disaster, and Hurricane Katrina.
Rear Admiral Gautier has also served as Chief, Port Operations and Marine Environmental Response at Coast Guard Marine Safety Office San Francisco and as a U.S. Delegate to United Nations and International Maritime Organization committees governing transportation of hazardous materials. He has also served aboard two Coast Guard cutters and as Commanding Officer of Loran Station Gesashi, Japan.
Rear Admiral Gautier graduated from the U. S. Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor’s of Science in Marine Engineering in 1987. He holds a Masters of Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Michigan and a Masters of National Security Strategy from the National War College. His military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Coast Guard Commendation Medal (three awards), DOT 9/11 Medal, and Coast Guard Achievement Medal (two awards).