Vice Admiral Richard D. Herr became the Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard in June 1996.
Vice Admiral Herr served as Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area and U.S. Maritime Defense Zone Pacific from June 1994 to June 1996. His previous flag assignments include Resource Director/Comptroller and the Coast Guard's Chief Financial Officer from 1991-1993, Commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District from 1993-1994, and Commander of Joint Task Force Five in 1994. Vice Admiral Herr retired August 1, 1998.
Vice Admiral Herr's earlier assignments included command of Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles, California, and the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama. He also served as Executive Officer of Coast Guard Air Station Washington, D.C. He has held qualifications as both a fixed wing and rotary wing aviator. Staff assignments have included Assistant Chief of the Programs Division in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard and Executive Assistant to the Commandant.
He graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy with honors in 1964 and, after a tour aboard the USCGC Escanaba (WPG-64), completed U.S. Navy flight training in 1967. He received his Masters of Science Degree in Operations Research from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1973 and attended the National War College from 1985 to 1986.
His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, three Legions of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal.
Vice Admiral Herr is a second generation Coast Guard officer and a native of the Pacific Northwest. He is married to the former Susan A. of Westerly, Rhode Island. They have two sons, Sean and Christopher.