Deputy Commander for MobilizationRear Admiral Michael R. Seward has most recently served as the Deputy J-3 at NORTHCOM, Colorado Springs, CO.
A native of California’s San Joaquin Valley, Rear Admiral Seward graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and a commission as an Ensign. His active duty assignments included a tour aboard CGC Rush (WHEC 723), a 378-foot high-endurance Cutter based in Alameda, CA. He also served as Admissions Officer and Instructor at the Coast Guard Academy.
Prior to his current reserve assignment, Rear Admiral Seward served as Commodore, Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron Three Zero, Imperial Beach, CA; Deputy Chief of Staff, Eleventh Coast Guard District in Alameda, CA; Coast Guard Liaison Officer at Naval Coastal Warfare Group One in San Diego, CA; Deputy Operations Officer for Contingencies at Coast Guard Pacific Area in Alameda, CA; and Commanding Officer of Port Security Unit 311, based in San Pedro, CA. He also commanded several reserve units and held temporary command of CGC Point Heyer (WPB 82369), an 82-foot patrol boat based in San Francisco, CA. During other reserve assignments he served aboard Cutters Point Barrow (WPB 82348), Boutwell (WHEC 719), Sherman (WHEC 720), and Midgett (WHEC 726). In 1991 Rear Admiral Seward was mobilized to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm as Executive Officer of Port Security Unit 303. He deployed to Somalia in December 1992 as a member of the joint Coast Guard-Navy Naval Coastal Warfare Assessment Team for Operation Restore Hope. In 2001, he was mobilized for Operation Noble Eagle, spending seven months conducting “Red Cell” anti-terrorism analysis for the Coast Guard Pacific Area.
Rear Admiral Seward has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, (two awards), the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, (two awards), the Department of Transportation 9-11 Medal, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal (two awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He also has earned the Port Security and Cutterman Breast Insignia.