Admiral 'Robert Edward Kramek' (born
December 15,
1939) served as the twentieth
Commandant of the
United States Coast Guard from
1994 to
1998. During his tenure as Commandant, he successfully led the service through difficult budget battles each year and directed the "streamlining" plan that was mandated by the National Performance Review and "Mandate for Change."
Education
He graduated from high school in
Bayside, New York. He graduated with honors from the
United States Coast Guard Academy in
New London, Connecticut and also attended graduate schools at the
University of Michigan,
Johns Hopkins University, and the
University of Alaska. Furthermore, he graduated with high distinction from the
Naval War College in
Newport, Rhode Island.
Coast Guard career
Upon graduation from the Coast Guard Academy in
1961, he was commissioned as an Ensign and quickly advanced through the ranks, accepting assignments such as commander of the High-Endurance Cutter
USCGC Midgett (WHEC-726), commander of the Coast Guard base at
Governors Island, Commander of the 7th and 13th Coast Guard Districts, Regional Drug Interdiction Coordinator, Haitian Migration Task Force Coordinator, and Coast Guard Chief of Staff before becoming Commandant.
American Bureau of Shipping career
Following his retirement from the Coast Guard, he joined the
Houston, Texas-based
American Bureau of Shipping, serving as President of the Americas Division from 1998 to
2004, and as President and Chief Operating Officer from 2004 to
2006.
References
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United States Coast Guard Biography