D. Brian Peterman

Vice Admiral Brian Peterman (Ret.) is a recognized leader in the fields of maritime safety and security, border and port security, maritime domain awareness, and emergency management. He retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2008 after 36 years of service to the United States. His final assignment was as Commander, Atlantic Area, where he oversaw all Coast Guard operations in a region that ranged from the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf.

Prior to that assignment, he was the Commander of U.S. Coast Guard District Seven, headquartered in Miami, Florida. In that command, he was at the forefront of preventing illegal seaborne immigrants from entering the U.S., fighting the narco-terrorism campaign in the Caribbean and Atlantic areas in conjunction with U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), responding to eight major hurricanes, and managing an aggressive commercial and recreational vessel safety program. During this period, he was appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the Principle Federal Official (PFO) for Hurricane Ophelia. This was the first PFO assignment after Hurricane Katrina and it spearheaded improvements made to federal disaster preparedness.

Mr. Peterman also possesses extensive national security policy experience at the highest levels. He served as a Director in the Defense Policy and Arms Control staff on the White House National Security Council during the Clinton Administration. Immediately following the terrorist attacks of September 11th, he was called back to the White House where he served for two-and-a-half years as the Special Assistant to the President for Border and Transportation Security on the newly created Homeland Security Council staff. In this position he bolstered the security of our borders through immigration and customs improvements and put safeguards in place to reduce the vulnerability of all modes of transportation. From 2002-2003, he helped in the planning and establishment of DHS.

Mr. Peterman also has extensive operational, interagency and international experience. He commanded two Coast Guard Cutters: WOODRUSH out of Sitka, Alaska, and CAMPBELL out of New Bedford, Massachusetts. In addition, he served aboard ACHUSHNET out of Gulfport, Mississippi, and SWEETBRIER out of Cordova, Alaska. He was the first Coast Guard officer in the Military Liaison Office in Kingston, Jamaica, where he trained Jamaica Defense Force personnel for peacekeeping operations in Grenada. He served at the Headquarters, U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, where he managed a security assistance program that required extensive travel in North and West Africa. Later, he commanded the Coast Guard’s key Alaska industrial and operational facility in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Mr. Peterman earned his Bachelor’s Degree from West Chester University in Pennsylvania and a Master of Science Degree from the Naval War College. His military awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Cutterman’s insignia and the Presidential Service insignia.