Robert Edward Kramek (December 15, 1939 – October 20, 2016) was an

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 20th commandant 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 the Bayside neighborhood of Queens in New York City. He was also an Eagle Scout. He graduated with honors from the United States Coast Guard Academy in

New London, Connecticut New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decades ...

, and also attended graduate schools at the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and the

University of Alaska The University of Alaska System is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Alaska. It was created in 1917 and comprises three separately accredited universities on 19 campuses. The system serves nearly 30,000 full- and part-time stud ...

. Furthermore, he graduated with high distinction from the

Naval War College The Naval War College (NWC or NAVWARCOL) is the staff college and "Home of Thought" for the United States Navy at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. The NWC educates and develops leaders, supports defining the future Navy and associat ...

in Newport, Rhode Island. in 1998, he was honored with the

Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award The Naval War College Distinguished Graduate leadership Award was established in 1996 by the Trustees of the Naval War College Foundation to honor United States Naval War College The Naval War College (NWC or NAVWARCOL) is the staff college and " ...

Coast Guard career

Upon graduation from the Coast Guard Academy in 1961, he was commissioned as an Ensign. He quickly advanced through the ranks, accepting assignments such as commander of the High-Endurance Cutter '' USCGC Midgett'', Commander of the Coast Guard base at

Governors Island Governors Island is a island in New York Harbor, within the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located approximately south of Manhattan Island, and is separated from Brooklyn to the east by the Buttermilk Channel. The National Park S ...

, 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.

Death

While aboard a commercial airliner, he suffered a stroke, then a fatal cardiac arrest in a matter of minutes on October 20, 2016, and was buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

References

External links

United States Coast Guard Biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kramek, Robert E. 1939 births 2016 deaths Commandants of the United States Coast Guard United States Coast Guard admirals People from Bayside, Queens Military personnel from New York City Military personnel from Houston United States Coast Guard Academy alumni University of Michigan alumni Johns Hopkins University alumni University of Alaska alumni Naval War College alumni Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Burials at Arlington National Cemetery