Press Releases

Congressman Mike Ezell (MS-04) welcomed U.S. Coast Guard Acting Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday to Mississippi’s Fourth Congressional District last week for a series of briefings and site visits focused on domestic shipbuilding, Coast Guard operations, and maritime security.

Admiral Lunday and Ezell, who also serves as Chairman of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, toured Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, MS,  Austal USA in Mobile, AL, the U.S. Coast Guard Station Pascagoula, and the Port Security Unit 308 in Kiln, MS to meet with service members and local leaders.

“I was honored to host Admiral Lunday in South Mississippi and highlight the critical role our region plays in supporting the U.S. Coast Guard’s mission,” Ezell said. “From the skilled workforce at our shipyards to the dedicated service members at USCG Station Pascagoula and PSU 308, Mississippi’s Fourth District and the Gulf Coast have a proud tradition of contributing to our nation’s maritime strength and homeland security. Under Admiral Lunday’s leadership, I’m confident that our partnership will continue to grow, and I look forward to working closely with him to strengthen maritime safety, national defense, and economic opportunity along the Gulf Coast.”

"The impressive work I saw firsthand by American shipbuilders at Bollinger Mississippi and Austal shipyards demonstrates the vital effort to modernize the Coast Guard fleet and rebuild America’s maritime dominance," Acting Commandant Admiral Kevin E. Lunday said. "We're grateful for Chairman Ezell's leadership and Congress’s support to deliver the strong, capable, and ready Coast Guard the Nation needs.”

The Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard is the service’s highest-ranking officer, a four-star admiral appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Admiral Kevin Lunday currently serves as the Acting Commandant, having assumed the role on January 21, 2025, while awaiting Senate confirmation.

On May 21, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced Force Design 2028 (FD2028). This initiative provides a blueprint to transform the Coast Guard into a stronger, more ready and capable fighting force. Noem’s FD2028 executive report outlines a vision for the Coast Guard’s future, including 5 major points:

• Establish a Service Secretary so that the Coast Guard has the same representation as other military services, in line with Ezell’s bill, H.R. 2546, the Secretary of the Coast Guard Act of 2025. 
• Reorganize the Service to streamline processes, better integrate capabilities and eliminate redundancies. 
• Invest in the men and women who serve in the Coast Guard. 
• Invest in technology to improve efficiency and capability. 
• Improve and streamline the acquisition process. 

FD2028 represents an opportunity at a critical moment in history to transform the Coast Guard. Within 30 days, the commandant will deliver an execution plan, followed by the commencement of a force posture and operational concepts campaign within 150 days, and the first of semiannual updates within 180 days.