Cummings Congratulates CG Commandant Nominee

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-7) congratulated VADM Robert J. Papp Jr., President Obama’s choice to become the next Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. If he is confirmed by the Senate, Papp would replace Admiral Thad Allen as the 24th Commandant of the Coast Guard in May 2010.

Cummings, in his role as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, congratulated Papp and said he looked forward to helping him continue to move the Coast Guard into the future. “Admiral Allen and I have a great working relationship,” said Cummings. “I look forward to having a similar relationship with Vice Admiral Papp. This is an important time for the agency tasked with protecting our nation’s coasts and waterways. Admiral Papp is a decisive leader and an outstanding choice to succeed Admiral Allen.”

Papp will be in charge of roughly 42,000 Coast Guardsmen and women, as well as more than 7,000 civilian employees. He currently serves as Commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area (LANTAREA) and Defense Force East. Prior to assuming command of LANTAREA, he served at the Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard in Washington. Papp graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and holds a master’s in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College and a masters in management from Salve Regina College.