Vice Adm. Joe Buzzella, commander of Coast Guard Pacific Area and Defense Force West, is joined by family members during a promotion ceremony March 26, 2026, at Coast Guard Island, Alameda, California. Buzzella formally assumed the responsibilities of commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area during the ceremony, overseeing all Coast Guard operations across the Pacific theater—an area encompassing more than 74 million square miles. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kenneth Wiese)