Rear Admiral Carlton D. Moore received his commission in the Coast Guard Reserve in 1969, and spent three years in the Operations Division, Thirteenth Coast Guard District. The balance of the 33 years of service with the Coast Guard has been in various assignments with both the Coast Guard and the Navy. Prior assignments include Deputy Area Commander for Mobilization and Reserve Component Affairs, Pacific Area, Deputy Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District, and Deputy Commander for Expeditionary Warfare, with the Commander, Naval Surface Reserve Forces in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Additionally, he served as the Coast Guard Reserve Liaison Officer with Naval Reserve Headquarters, under the Office of Defense Operations.
He also served as the Coast Guard representative to the Joint Military Intelligence College, Defense Intelligence Agency. He is a graduate of two Reserve Component courses at the Army War College.
Rear Admiral Moore has had three unit commands and two group commands, including as Commanding Officer of Harbor Defense Command Unit 114 in Honolulu, Hawaii, commanding both Coast Guard and Naval reservists involved in rapid deployment of personnel in support of overseas expeditionary operations involving port and harbor security. Prior to that, he was Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard National Strike Force Exercise Support Unit in Salt Lake City, Utah, Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Reserve Unit San Luis Obispo, Commander, Coast Guard Reserve Group Monterey and Commander, Coast Guard Reserve Group Pacific Area.
As a result of events surrounding 9/11, he was called to active duty and served as Deputy Area Commander Mobilization & Reserve Component Affairs Coast Guard Atlantic Area and Deputy Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
After retirement, Rear Admiral Moore was recalled to active duty as Acting Director of Reserve and Training. In 2007, in response to the collision of the Cosco Busan with the San Francisco Bay Bridge, he headed the Coast Guard’s Incident Specific Preparedness Review, and in 2010 he was assigned a similar review of the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico.
In civilian employment, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him as Administrator of the Office of Spill Prevention and Response. He has been a member of the California Bar since 1988.
His community service included Past President of the Sacramento Chapter of the Navy League, and Vice President, Optimist Club, supporting programs for disadvantaged youth.