VADM William Lee is a Senior Fellow with the Flatter Executive Cadre.
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard.
Summary: Vice Admiral William “Dean” Lee assumed the duties as Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area (LANTAREA) in May of 2014, where he serves as the operational commander for all U.S. Coast Guard missions from the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf, spanning across five Coast Guard Districts and 40 states. He concurrently serves as Commander, Defense Force East and provides Coast Guard mission support to the Department of War and Combatant Commanders. Prior to assuming command of LANTAREA, Vice Admiral Lee served as the Deputy for Operations Policy and Capabilities (DCO-D) at Coast Guard Headquarters, where he oversaw integration of operations, capability, strategy, and resource policy. From 2010 to 2012, he served as the Fifth District Commander in Portsmouth, Virginia where he directed more than 3,000 Coast Guard active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel. Fifth District units conducted nearly 20,000 Search and Rescue cases during his tenure and supported response operations following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and Hurricanes Earl and Irene. Vice Admiral Lee is on his seventh command assignment and has spent a career specializing in Boat Operations and Search and Rescue. He has served along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts, in addition to supporting operations overseas as Commander, Deployable Operations Group (2009-2010).
