Charles Ray

Charles W. Ray is a retired United States Coast Guard admiral who served as the vice commandant of the Coast Guard from May 24, 2018 to June 18, 2021. He previously served as the Coast Guard's deputy commandant for operations.

Early life and education Ray is from Newport, Arkansas, and is a 1981 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy. After an assignment as a deck watch officer aboard USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167), he was selected for Naval Flight Training and earned his wings in 1984.

Ray held the title of Ancient Albatross from April 6, 2015 to April 22, 2021. This made him the longest serving Coast Guard Aviator and the 25th Coast Guard aviator to hold the title. He relinquished the title to Rear Admiral Melvin Bouboulis on April 22, 2021.

Flag assignments Ray speaks at his retirement ceremony in Washington D.C. in June 2021. On May 24, 2018, Ray assumed the duties of the vice commandant, the second-in-command of the United States Coast Guard. After inquiries from CNN, Coast Guard officials briefed members of Congress in June 2023. On August 18, 2023, Admiral Ray stepped down as Tyler Chair in Leadership at the Loy Institute at the Coast Guard Academy "for the good of the Service and the good of the Academy."

Ray's previous Flag Assignment was as the Pacific Area Commander. Prior to that he held flag assignments as the Deputy Pacific Area Commander, the Fourteenth Coast Guard District Commander, service with U.S. Forces Iraq as Director of the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission for the Ministry of the Interior, and as the military advisor to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Awards and decorations