Dean, School of Leadership and Management

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy, located in New London, Connecticut, invites applications for the position of Dean of the School of Leadership and Management (SLAM). The Academy seeks a visionary leader, an educator-scholar, and an accomplished administrator dedicated to the Coast Guard mission and to the intellectual development of student cadets. Candidates must bring a distinguished record of achievement, including strong academic experience, an earned doctoral degree, and scholarship or professional experience sufficient to qualify for appointment at the level of Full Professor. The Dean must be a visionary leader who can help define the direction of the School of Leadership and Management well into the 21st century. The Dean will also serve as an essential partner to the Provost/Chief Academic Officer, part of the team shaping and advancing the Academy’s strategic priorities; consequently the Dean will contribute substantially to strategic planning, assessment, management, operation, and development efforts of the Academic Division, which will include leveraging the intellectual capital of its faculty and program resources to execute the missions of the Coast Guard. The Dean will lead with vigor, collaborating with other school deans, department heads, faculty, staff and cadets to identify and implement transformational initiatives to further strengthen the School.

The United States Coast Guard Academy is a top military college granting Bachelor of Science degrees in one of ten engineering or professional majors. Ranked among the nation’s most prestigious and selective institutions of higher learning, the Coast Guard Academy is proud to educate future leaders of America’s multi-mission, maritime military force. Each year, approximately 250 graduates are commissioned as Ensigns in the U.S. Coast Guard to help ensure the safety, security, and stewardship of our nation’s waters.

The United States Coast Guard Academy’s academics are rigorous, our faculty esteemed and our programs renowned. The Academy is ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report in the “Top Public Schools” Regional Colleges North category and #12 in the “Best Undergraduate Engineering programs” category.

About the Academy

The United States Coast Guard Academy, located in New London, Connecticut, is a highly selective four-year, federal service academy preparing young men and women for leadership positions in the U.S. Coast Guard. As one of the five U.S. service academies, the Academy provides a comprehensive education blending rigorous academics, character development, physical fitness, and professional training. The U.S Coast Guard Academy is committed to building a talented faculty of teacher-scholars who collaborate to provide a multi-disciplinary and hands-on approach to learning and leadership development. Cadets participate in a demanding curriculum, practical leadership activities, and cultivated practical experiences, including annual summer training cruises aboard Coast Guard cutters. The Academy fosters a culture of service, integrity, and teamwork, instilling in its graduates the values necessary to lead with honor and distinction.

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The Academy and its Management degree program are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Four engineering majors, the Cyber Systems major, and the Marine and Environmental Sciences major are accredited by ABET under different commissions.

As the only institution of higher education in the Department of Homeland Security, the Academy works closely with DHS and the Coast Guard. Each of the ten undergraduate academic majors (Government, Management, Marine and Environmental Science, Operations Research and Data Analytics, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,

Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and Interdisciplinary Engineering) work with components of the larger organization to build a more capable, responsive Coast Guard by engaging in projects that support Coast Guard missions.

Position Description

Deans are responsible for overseeing the academic functions of their respective School and for upholding academic standards necessary to accomplish the Academy’s mission to graduate fleet-ready Ensigns in the United States Coast Guard. Each Dean’s primary concern is the totality of teaching and learning support in the School, including the effective operation of Academic Departments, execution of all Academic programs in the School, and opportunities for the faculty and cadets to be involved in appropriate scholarly and co-curricular activities. Key responsibilities of the Dean of the School of Leadership and Management include:

• Academic Leadership: Provide visionary leadership in curriculum development, program innovation, faculty development and program accreditation.
• Strategic Planning: Develop and implement a strategic plan for the School, aligning with the Academy’s overall strategic goals and the Coast Guard’s Force Design 2028 initiative (
• https://www.uscg.mil/leadership/commandants-initiatives/forcedesign2028/).
• Resource Management: Manage the School’s budget, personnel, and facilities effectively and efficiently.
• Faculty Development: Recruit, mentor, and evaluate faculty, fostering a culture of excellence in teaching, research, and service.
• Accreditation & Assessment: Ensure the School maintains accreditation standards and implements effective assessment processes.
• External Relations: Cultivate relationships with industry, government, and academic partners to enhance the School’s research and educational programs.
• Recruiting and retaining a management and finance-literate workforce for the US Coast Guard: The Academy develops the majority of uniformed finance professionals for the Service. The Dean is a key partner with Admissions and the greater Coast Guard to ensure a competent workforce.
• Maritime Professionalism: The Nautical Science Department is central to the development of maritime leaders who are skilled shiphandlers, capable of executing Coast Guard missions on our waterways. The Dean must understand, appreciate, and support the maritime culture and missions of the school and the Service.

Candidate Qualifications

The Dean of Leadership and Management at the United States Coast Guard Academy is an innovative, strategic and collegial academic leader who understands the distinctive mission of the Academy and is committed to student success. The Academy seeks a Dean with the energy and enthusiasm to inspire the faculty to drive curricular innovation, ensuring the highest quality education for its students.

The ideal candidate will possess the following professional and personal qualities:

• Academic credentials: An earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution, in a professional field closely related to the disciplines represented in the School.• Professional Record: Distinguished academic record, with evidence of effective leadership at an accredited higher education institution, and successful, progressive responsibility. A record of achievement in teaching, research and service that merits appointment as a tenured Full Professor in the Department of Management.
• Commitment to public service, undergraduate education, and leadership development.
• Communication: Demonstrated ability to clearly and effectively communicate objectives, priorities, and challenges to faculty, students, and a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to effectively lead a diverse faculty and steer meaningful enhancements to curriculum, organizational structure, culture, and utilization of physical space.
• Values: Evidence of alignment with Coast Guard Core Values of honor, respect and devotion to duty.
• Supportive: Experience supporting faculty professional growth and scholarship.
• Community building: Successful experience fostering a shared identity and common mission across a workforce featuring academics and professional practitioners.
• Management: Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, personnel, and facilities effectively.
• Engagement: Documented history of successful stakeholder engagement/support.
• Experience with Accreditation: Understanding of AACSB accreditation processes and assessment methodologies.
• Adaptive: A demonstrated ability to adapt to unique educational environments such as exists at a small service academy.
• Forward-leaning: Experience adapting curriculum and research to advance emerging technologies within the maritime, finance, management, leadership, and organizational behavior domains.
• Leading organizational change: Ability to lead organizational changes/major academic initiatives.

Opportunities

The Leadership Opportunity

The Dean of the School of Leadership and Management (SLAM) is a senior academic leader of the United States Coast Guard Academy, reporting to the Provost and responsible for guiding a uniquely integrated, pre-professional academic enterprise. The School combines accredited management education, applied maritime and nautical sciences, professional legal and regulatory studies, and leadership development to prepare future Coast Guard officers for immediate operational responsibility and long-term professional growth. The Dean will lead a school whose academic mission has immediate operational consequences for the Service and enduring implications for public trust and national security.

Lead Across Distinct but Interconnected Academic Environments

SLAM encompasses multiple academic domains that differ in pedagogy, accreditation, and professional orientation—including an AACSB-accredited management department, applied professional programs in nautical science and maritime studies, and a law and legal studies section expected to join the School. The Dean will provide unifying leadership across these environments, ensuring coherence of purpose while respecting the distinct intellectual and professional standards that define each area.

Lead a School Central to Officer Development and Service Readiness

SLAM plays a defining role in preparing cadets for leadership in operational, regulatory, and crisis-response environments. The Dean will guide programs that integrate management education, ethical leadership, organizational effectiveness, and maritime expertise—ensuring graduates are prepared not only to perform, but to lead responsibly in complex and high-stakes settings. The Dean will guide curricular and co-curricular experiences that intentionally bridge management theory and applied practice, classroom instruction and operational training, business education and military leadership to prepare cadets to assume leadership and management responsibilities immediately upon commissioning while also building the analytical, ethical, and professional foundation required for advanced graduate study.

Strengthen and Differentiate an Accredited and Professionally Oriented Portfolio

The Dean will steward the School’s AACSB accreditation while also advancing professional maritime and regulatory education aligned with Coast Guard missions. This includes fostering curricular innovation, assessment, and continuous improvement across programs with differing external standards and stakeholder expectations. The opportunity lies in articulating a clear academic identity for a school that integrates professional disciplines within the broader landscape of leadership and management education.

Provide Strategic Direction at a Moment of Institutional Opportunity

With evolving Coast Guard workforce needs, growing interdisciplinary opportunities, and significant investment in Academy infrastructure, the Dean will develop and implement a strategic vision for SLAM that aligns academic programs with future service requirements. This role offers the chance to shape how leadership, management, legal, and maritime education intersect to support officer readiness in complex, multi-domain environments.

Cultivate a Faculty Community Spanning Scholarship and Practice

SLAM faculty include both academic scholars and experienced military and professional practitioners. The Dean will foster a cohesive professional community grounded in shared purpose, high expectations, and mutual respect—supporting excellence in teaching, applied scholarship, mentorship, and service. Leading effectively across these faculty cultures is central to sustaining the School’s success.

Expand Engagement with the Coast Guard and the Professional Community

The Dean will strengthen partnerships with Coast Guard units, industry, and government stakeholders to inform curriculum, support applied research, and expand experiential learning opportunities for cadets. These engagements ensure that leadership and management education remains grounded in real-world challenges and responsive to evolving mission demands.

In sum, the Dean of the School of Leadership and Management will lead a rare academic enterprise—one that intentionally integrates business education, applied professional disciplines, and military leadership development. For candidates drawn to roles that demand breadth, judgment, and the ability to align theory with practice in service of a national mission, this position offers a distinctive and compelling leadership opportunity.

Procedure for Candidacy

Applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Interested candidates should include, as separate documents, a curriculum vitae and a letter of interest explaining how they meet the qualifications above and will bring them to bear to lead the School.

Applications should be sent to CGALeadershipDean@uscga.edu.

Buffkin/Baker, an executive search firm, is assisting the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in the search. Inquiries and nominations can be sent to Buffkin/ Baker at:

Mr. Ken Carrick, Partner – 980-296-5401

Ms. Janny DeLoache, Associate Partner – 704-377-7828

USCGADeanSLAM@buffkinbaker.com

While applications and nominations will be accepted until a successful candidate has been appointed, interested individuals are encouraged to submit their materials by April 1, 2026 for full consideration. Review of submitted materials will begin immediately. Finalists for the position will be required to provide proof of their educational qualifications, such as unofficial transcripts. Applicants may submit this information with their application. If tentatively selected for this position, the selectee must submit official transcripts to the Human Resources office prior to receiving a firm offer of employment. Finalists will also be required to provide contact information for five professional references.