Joseph M. Vojvodich

Joseph M. Vojvodich (VAH-vah-ditch) is the first Asian American to become a flag officer in the United States Coast Guard.

Early life Vojvodich was born in South Korea in 1963 to U.S. Army soldier Joseph Vojvodich and Su Cha Mun. He is of Korean and Serbian sescent. He was raised in Richmond, Ohio. He graduated from Jefferson Union High School in 1981. He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1985 where he had played football and track and field.

Coast Guard career Vojvodich was a navigator on the USCGC John Midgett and executive officer on the USCGC Storis. He was the commanding officer of the USCGC Gentian and USCGC Sapelo. He was captain of the Port of Long Island Sound until June 2010. While commander of the Gentian he wrote "Building an Effective Maritime Neighborhood Watch in the Caribbean" for the U.S. Naval Institute. 31 March 2011 -- Gov. Dannel Malloy speaks with Capt. Joseph Vojvodich, Sector Long Island Sound Commander, about the duties and responsibilities of the Coast Guard throughout the shoreline of Connecticut, New Haven, Conn., during a tour. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 3rd Class Seth Johnson. On 12 May 2012 he was awarded the National Ethnic Coalition Medal of Honor, which "honors ancestry groups that comprise America's unique cultural mosaic," at Ellis Island.

On 10 October 2019, Vojvodich was awarded the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers Salutes Career Service Award in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

2017: RADM Joseph M. Vojvodich 2018: Lt. Christine Igisomar 2019: Lt. Cmdr. Celina H. Ladyga 2020: Coast Guard Academy Scholars (CGAS) Program Leadership Team (Chris McMunn, LT Timothy J. Kessell, LT Marvi M. Rivera, YNC Jennifer C. Rosen, and YNC Deborah J. Hamilton) 2023: Lt. Cmdr. Mark Braxton, USCG (ret)

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