Vice Admiral Arthur Eugene (Gene) Henn became the Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard in June 1994. Formerly the Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection, Vice Admiral Henn is an internationally recognized authority in maritime safety and environmental protection, heading United States delegations to the International Maritime Organization for over 20 years. Vice Admiral Henn retired on July 1, 1996.
Vice Admiral Henn's earlier assignments include Operations and Engineering Officer on the Coast Guard cutter Chincoteague; Assistant Chief, Merchant Marine Technical Branch, New Orleans, La.; Special Project Action Officer, Merchant Marine Technical Division, Coast Guard Headquarters; and Marine Inspector and Senior Investigating Officer, Marine Inspection Office, Philadelphia, Penn. He was also Chief, Engineering Branch and Chief, Marine Technical and Hazardous Materials Division, Coast Guard Headquarters; Captain of the Port and Group Commander, New York; Commander, Subsector, New York, Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic; Chief Operations Division and Chief of Staff, Eighth Coast Guard District, New Orleans, La.; and Commander of the Maintenance and Logistics Command, Atlantic.
A 1962 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, Vice Admiral Henn earned combined master of science degrees in naval architecture, marine engineering and metallurgical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1968. He is also a 1982 graduate of the Army War College. Vice Admiral Henn was selected fro flag rank in 1987. He is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, American Society of Naval Engineers, American Bureau of Shipping, International Cargo Gear Bureau, Marine Index Bureau, Marine engineering Council of Underwriters Laboratories and the Sealift Committee of the National Defense Transportation Association.
Vice Admiral Henn's awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, Coast Guard Unit Commendations, the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, and two Coast Guard Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbons.
A native f Cincinnati, Ohio, Vice Admiral Henn is married to the former Susan Frances P., also of Cincinnati. They have two grown children, David and Jennifer.