A native of New Haven, Connecticut, Rear Admiral DeWolf is a 1950 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy. He also attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. where he was awarded a Juris Doctor Degree in 1957.
Admiral De Wolf has served aboard many Coast Guard cutters in his career, including tours as commanding officer of USCGC Legare and USCGC Chautaugua. He also served as the Coast Guard's principal legislative counsel during the development and enactment of the Federal Boat Safety Act and the Ports and Waterways Safety Act.
The Admiral's most recent assignment prior to assuming command of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District was a Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard.
Admiral DeWolf is married tot he former Marcia B. Staub of Waterford, Connecticut and they have five children.
Chronology of Duty Assignments
Clifford F. DeWolf was born May 20, 1928 in New Haven, Connecticut. He graduated in 1950 from the Coast Guard Academy with a commission as Ensign, U.S. Coast Guard and a Bachelor of Science degree in General Engineering.
His first assignment after graduation was to USCGC Bibb and from there to duty as commanding officer of an 83-foot patrol boat in Alaska. This led to his assignment as part of the original precommissioning detail for the 95-foot patrol boats in Curtis Bay, Maryland and his return to Alaska as commanding officer of the new 95, USCGC Cape Coral.
After selection for legal training in 1955, he attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. where he was awarded a Juris Doctor degree in 1957 and was admitted to the bar.
Following a short postgraduate tour in the Legal Division at Coast Guard Headquarters he returned to sea as commanding officer of USCGC Legare. He then served a tour at the Coast Guard Academy where he instructed in law, seamanship, and other professional studies.
In 1963, then Lieutenant Commander DeWolf served as staff Legal Officer in the 17th Coast Guard District based in Juneau, Alaska. From there he was assigned to USCGC Chautaugua, first as Executive Officer and then as Commanding Officer. From 1967 to 1972, he served as the Coast Guard's principal legislative counsel during the development and drafting of the Federal Boat Safety Act and the Ports and Waterways Safety Act as well as other legislation important to the Coast Guard.
In the absence of a Coast Guard Judge Advocate Corps, Admiral DeWolf has served collaterally throughout his career as counsel and Law Officer in Coast Guard courts martial and related activities. He also served collaterally as a judge on the Coast Guard Court of Review for the appellate review of courts martial. In 1972, then Captain DeWolf served as West Coast Military Judge, one of two full-time military trial judges.
After a tour as staff Legal Officer of the 12th Coast Guard District based in San Francisco, he was advanced to Chief of Operations in that District in July 1975. After that, he served as Chief of Staff in the Eighth Coast Guard District until his promotion to Rear Admiral in June 1978.
As a flag officer, prior to assuming command of the 13th Coast Guard District, Admiral DeWolf commended the Eighth Coast guard District based in New Orleans and served as Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard at Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Chronology of Coast Guard Promotions
Following his graduation from the Coast Guard Academy as an Ensign in 1950, he was subsequently promoted as follows: Lieutenant (junior grade) in 1952; Lieutenant in 1955; Lieutenant Commander in 1961; Commander on July 1, 1966; Captain on February 1, 1972. His date of rank as Rear Admiral ins July 1, 1978.
Medals and Awards
Admiral DeWolf's awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Coast Guard Commendation Medal.