William D. Baumgartner

Rear Admiral Baumgartner retired from the U.S. Coast Guard after a 33-year career in law and operations. As a Rear Admiral, he served as The Judge Advocate General/Chief Counsel (TJAG) of the Coast Guard managing the Coast Guard’s worldwide legal program with over 250 attorneys, including a trial and appellate court system. He also served as the Seventh District Commander directing all U.S. Coast Guard operations in the Southeast U.S. and the Caribbean Basin. Other assignments include Director, Homeland Security Task Force Southeast, commanding officer of two Coast Guard cutters, and various legal and operational positions. He dealt extensively with drug interdiction operations from 1980 through 2013.

From 2013-2017, Rear Admiral Baumgartner was the Senior Vice President, Global Marine Operations, for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Since 2018, he has led Baumgartner & Associates, LLC, a maritime consulting practice.

Rear Admiral Baumgartner holds a B.S. degree from the U. S. Coast Guard Academy, an MBA from the University of New Orleans, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.