Coast Guard Academy announces new superintendent
New London — The Coast Guard Academy named a new superintendent Thursday.
Rear Adm. William G. Kelly, who currently oversees human resources for the Coast Guard, will take over for Rear Adm. James Rendon when his four-year tour ends this summer. After 40 years in uniform, Rendon will retire from active duty this summer.
Kelly has been assistant commandant for human resources since April 2016, overseeing a range of activities from the recruitment of new personnel to retiree pay and benefits. He is a 1987 graduate of the academy.
"The academy shapes the future leaders of the Coast Guard and provides them with the skills and wisdom they'll need to meet the security needs of the nation. It is a tremendous responsibility and as a CGA graduate and a parent of a CGA grad (Class of 2014), I am deeply honored to be selected as the next superintendent. I will be dedicated to the Academy's mission and to continuing the important work of providing an equitable, respectful, inclusive environment for all students, faculty, and staff," Kelly said in a statement Thursday.
The academy has faced scrutiny in recent years for racial disparities and its handling of discrimination and harassment complaints. Each year the academy has about 1,000 students, about 200 of whom graduate and become commissioned as Coast Guard officers.
Kelly's previous assignments include commander of the Coast Guard's Personnel Service Center and director of the Coast Guard's Leadership Development Center in New London. He also served as the school chief for Officer Candidate School.
Rendon, the current superintendent, took command in June 2015. He graduated from the academy in 1983, and served as assistant superintendent from 2010 to 2012.
In a statement, Rendon congratulated Kelly on his selection, saying, "His operational Coast Guard experience and human capital management expertise, combined with his two previous Coast Guard Academy assignments and his continuing involvement in a variety of diversity and inclusion initiatives make him an excellent selection to continue our positive momentum."
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