{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Short description|Area command of the United States Coast Guard}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name=Coast Guard Pacific Area & Defense Forces West |image=Emblem Coast Guard Pacific Area.svg |caption= |dates= |country= United States |allegiance= |branch= |type= [[United States Coast Guard order of battle|Area Command]] |role= |size= |command_structure= |garrison= [[Coast Guard Island]], [[Alameda, California|Alameda]], California |garrison_label=Headquarters |nickname=PACAREA |patron= |motto= |colors= |colors_label= |march= |mascot= |equipment= |equipment_label= |battles= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= <!-- Commanders --> |commander1= [[Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral|Rear Admiral]] [[Joseph R. Buzzella]] (acting) |commander1_label= Area Commander |commander2= [[Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral (lower half)|Rear Admiral (lower half)]] [[Jeffrey W. Novak]] |commander2_label= Deputy Area Commander |commander3= |commander3_label= |notable_commanders=[[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]] [[Paul F. Zukunft]],<br>25th USCG Commandant<br>[[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]] [[Linda L. Fagan]],<br>27th & 1st female Commandant <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= }}
'''Coast Guard Pacific Area & Defense Forces West''' ('''PACAREA''')<ref>Informally known simply as "PACAREA" or "Pacific Area")</ref> is an [[United States Coast Guard order of battle|Area Command]] of the [[United States Coast Guard]], a regional command element and force provider tasked with maritime safety, security, and stewardship throughout the Pacific. The command's area of responsibility encompasses six of the seven continents, 71 countries, and more than 74 million square miles of ocean—from the U.S. Western States to the waters off the east coast of Africa, and from the Arctic to Antarctica. Pacific Area has primary responsibilities for all Coast Guard operations throughout this area of responsibility.
==Organizational structure==
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area is concurrently Commander of [[Defense Forces West]], and is located at [[Coast Guard Island]] in [[Alameda, California|Alameda]], [[California]].
Pacific Area is divided into four operational regions called [[United States Coast Guard order of battle|districts]], each overseen by a two-star [[Admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]]. The 11th Coast Guard District is co-located with Pacific Area and oversees all Coast Guard operations from the [[California]]/[[Oregon]] border, south to Guatemala and out 200 miles to sea. The [[Coast Guard District 13|13th Coast Guard District]] is headquartered in [[Seattle]], Washington and maintains responsibility for Coast Guard operations throughout the Pacific Northwest. The 17th Coast Guard District is based in [[Juneau]], with responsibility for all Coast Guard operations in Alaska. The 14th Coast Guard District has responsibility for Coast Guard operations throughout a 12.2 million square mile region that encompasses the [[Hawaiian Islands]], [[Guam]], [[American Samoa]], and Coast Guard activities in [[Saipan]], [[Singapore]], and [[Japan]].
The Pacific Area and its subordinate units employ 13,000 active duty and reserve members, Coast Guard Auxiliarists, and civilian employees.
==Operational assets==
In addition to assets at each of its subordinate units, the Pacific Area command's operational assets include:
* 6 [[National Security Cutters]] * 8 [[High Endurance Cutter]]s * 4 [[Medium Endurance Cutter]]s * 3 [[Polar-class icebreaker|Polar Ice Breakers]] * 29 [[Patrol Boats]] * 12 [[Buoy Tender]]s * 11 [[United States Coast Guard Sector|Sectors]] * 10 [[United States Coast Guard Air Stations|Air Stations]] * 13 [[HC-130]] Fixed-Wing Aircraft * 26 [[HH-65]] Dolphin Helicopters * 13 [[HH-60]] Jayhawk Helicopters
Pacific Area also oversees the [[Deployable Operations Group|Deployable Specialized Forces]] (DSFs), which include the [[National Strike Force]], [[Law Enforcement Detachments|Tactical Law Enforcement Teams]], [[Port Security Unit]]s, and [[Maritime Safety and Security Team]]s.
==List of commanders== *[[Thomas H. Collins]], 1998 *[[Charles E. Larkin]], 2000 *[[Harvey E. Johnson Jr.]], June 2004 *[[Charles D. Wurster]], May 2006 *[[David Pekoske]], 29 May 2008<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-pacific-area-to-hold-change-of-command/2008/05/28/|title = Coast Guard Pacific Area to hold Change of Command | Coast Guard News}}</ref> *[[Jody A. Breckenridge]], 10 July 2009<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-pacific-area-holds-change-of-command/2009/07/10/|title=Coast Guard Pacific Area holds Change of Command | Coast Guard News}}</ref> *[[Manson K. Brown]], 18 May 2010<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/49915/coast-guard-pacific-area-holds-change-command|title=Coast Guard Pacific Area holds change of command}}</ref> *[[Paul F. Zukunft]], 27 April 2012<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-pacific-area-welcomes-new-commander/2012/04/27/|title = Coast Guard Pacific Area welcomes new commander | Coast Guard News}}</ref> *[[Charles Ray (admiral)|Charles W. Ray]], 22 April 2014<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2014/04/22/alameda-coast-guard-gets-a-new-pacific-commander/|title = Alameda: Coast Guard gets a new Pacific commander|date = 22 April 2014}}</ref> *[[List of United States Coast Guard vice admirals|Fred M. Midgette]], 15 August 2016<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-pacific-area-to-hold-change-of-command-ceremony-monday/2016/08/12/|title=Coast Guard Pacific Area to hold change-of-command ceremony Monday | Coast Guard News}}</ref> *[[Linda L. Fagan]], 8 June 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-pacific-area-holds-change-of-command-ceremony/2018/06/08/|title=Coast Guard Pacific Area holds change-of-command ceremony | Coast Guard News}}</ref> *[[Peter W. Gautier]], 16 June 2021 (acting)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hstoday.us/federal-pages/dhs/uscg/coast-guard-pacific-area-holds-change-of-command-ceremony-3/|title = Coast Guard Pacific Area Holds Change of Command Ceremony|date = 17 June 2021}}</ref> *[[Michael F. McAllister]], 30 June 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6716162/coast-guard-pacific-area-holds-change-command-ceremony|title=Coast Guard Pacific Area holds change of command ceremony}}</ref> *[[Andrew J. Tiongson]], 8 July 2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/maritime-security/coast-guard-pacific-area-command-holds-change-of-command-ceremony/|title=Coast Guard Pacific Area Command Holds Change-of-Command Ceremony|date=2022-07-14|access-date=2022-07-15|website=Homeland Security Today}}</ref> *[[Joseph R. Buzzella]] (acting), 18 July 2025<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4250052/coast-guard-pacific-area-holds-retirement-ceremony/|title=Coast Guard Pacific Area holds retirement ceremony|date=2025-07-18|access-date=2025-07-23|location=[[Alameda, California]]|website=U.S. Coast Guard News}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[United States Coast Guard]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Units and organizations of the United States Coast Guard|Pacific Area]] [[Category:Military units and formations in California]] [[Category:Alameda, California]]