​​​​​​​WASHINGTON

Adm. Kevin Lunday was sworn in Thursday as the 28th Commandant of the US Coast Guard in a ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who praised Lunday’s almost 40-year experience with the Coast Guard.

Upon assuming his command, Lunday reaffirmed the Coast Guard’s role as a key instrument of national power, responsible for securing US maritime borders, protecting commerce, defending national security and responding to crises without warning.

“Every day, Coast Guard men and women carry out missions that protect our homeland, secure our maritime borders, save lives and protect national security. I am humbled to serve alongside them while ensuring they have what they need to succeed – today and in the future," he said.

The Coast Guard, one of the nation’s six armed services, operates across more than 95,000 miles of shoreline and 4.5 million square miles of exclusive economic zone, carrying out missions that range from maritime security and law enforcement to search and rescue, and drug interdiction.