Rear Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson

Commander, First Coast Guard District
U.S. Coast Guard

Rear Admiral Tiongson assumed the duties of Commander, First Coast Guard District in June 2018. He oversees all Coast Guard missions across eight states in the Northeast including over 2,000 miles of coastline from the U.S.-Canadian border to northern New Jersey and 1300 miles offshore.

RDML Tiongson’s previous flag assignment was as the Assistant Commandant for Resources and Chief Financial Officer for the U.S. Coast Guard, where he was responsible for all budgetary, financial and resource management activities relating to the programs and operations of the Coast Guard.

Rear Admiral Tiongson is a career cutterman whose time at sea spans five Coast Guard cutters and one U.S. Navy ship. His afloat career began in 1989 onboard USCGC ESCANABA (WMEC 907). Most recently, in 2015, he commissioned USCGC JAMES (WMSL 754), bringing the Coast Guard’s fifth National Security Cutter into service. While serving onboard USS NORMANDY (CG- 60) as part of the U.S. Coast Guard - U.S. Navy exchange program, he deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm. He has served in four command cadre positions afloat: Executive Officer onboard USCGC MOHAWK (WMEC 913) and Commanding Officer onboard USCGC NANTUCKET (WPB 1316), USCGC LEGARE (WMEC 912) and USCGC JAMES (WMSL 754).

Rear Admiral Tiongson has served in a variety of key staff positions, including two positions in acquisition projects. First, he served as the Assistant Project Officer for the $30 million Configuration Management Project, transforming shipboard logistics and maintenance management. Later, he served as the Assistant Project Manager for the nearly $1 billion Rescue 21 project, the largest command and control project in Coast Guard history. Rear Admiral Tiongson served two different tours in the Office of Budget and Programs as a Budget Coordinator/Program Reviewer and the Office Chief. He served in the Office of Congressional Affairs as the Senior Policy Advisor on domestic and international drug issues and Veterans’ Affairs to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served as the Executive Assistant to the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard where he supported the Commandant and Vice Commandant on strategic policy and budget matters.

Rear Admiral Tiongson’s personal awards include three Legions of Merit, four Meritorious Service Medals, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the U.S. Navy Achievement Medal, the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation and various Service and unit awards. He is a permanent Cutterman and has earned the U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer designation.

Rear Admiral Tiongson is a 1989 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. He holds two Master degrees from The George Washington University: Mechanical Engineering and Environmental and Energy Management. He was also a System Design and Management Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he earned a Master of Science in Engineering and Management, a joint degree from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and Engineering School. He also completed MIT’s one-year Seminar XXI program on foreign politics, international relations and the national interest.