Vice Admiral Jody A. Breckenridge assumed duties as Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area in July 2009. The Area of Operations for this command encompasses over 73 million square miles throughout the Pacific Basin to the Far East. Vice Admiral Breckenridge oversees the operation of units performing missions in maritime safety, maritime mobility, protection of natural resources, maritime security, homeland security, and national defense.
Prior to this assignment, she served as the Director, Strategic Transformation Team where she was responsible for aligning and synchronizing the efforts to transform and modernize the Coast Guard. Simultaneously, she served as Assistant Commandant for Human Resources where she had oversight of the Coast Guard’s HR professionals. From 2005-2006 VADM Breckenridge served as Commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District in Alameda, CA overseeing Coast Guard operations in the SW and the Eastern Pacific. During her tenure, the Eleventh District stepped up its interagency collaboration leading to record drug seizures including the M/V GATUN, the largest maritime interdiction in US history, and the arrest of Francisco Javier Arellano Felix, head of the Arellano Felix Drug Cartel. Her initial flag assignment was as Commander, Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific with responsibility for all mission support in the Pacific Theater.
Vice Admiral Breckenridge’s other career assignments include Coast Guard Deputy Chief of Staff, Commanding Officer of the Recruiting Command, Personnel Command (Officer Personnel Assistant and Division Chief, Officer Assignments Chief), Executive Officer Integrated Support Command Seattle, Executive Officer Base Seattle, Chief, Officer Candidate School, Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center, Group Seattle Operations Officer, Group/COTP Seattle Assistant Port Safety Officer, Headquarters Marine Environmental Protection Division and National Response Center.
Vice Admiral Breckenridge was commissioned upon completion of Officer Candidate School in June, 1976. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Virginia Tech, a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, and a Masters of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. While attending the University of Maryland, she was elected to the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi and was presented an Excellence in Scholarship Award, graduating with honors.
Vice Admiral Breckenridge's personal awards include three Legion of Merits, three Meritorious Service Medals, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, Achievement Medal, and the Commandant's Letter of Commendation.