Joseph M. Vojvodich (born 1963) is the first Asian American to become a flag officer in the United States Coast Guard.
Early life Vojvodich was born in South Korea in 1963 to U.S. Army soldier Joseph Vojvodich and Su Cha Mun. He is of Korean and Serbian sescent. He was raised in Richmond, Ohio. He graduated from Jefferson Union High School in 1981. He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1985 where he had played football and track and field. He earned a master's degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and is a graduate of the Naval War College. He also earned a masters of science in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Coast Guard career Vojvodich was a navigator on the USCGC John Midgett and executive officer on the USCGC Storis. He was the commanding officer of the USCGC Gentian and USCGC Sapelo. He was captain of the Port of Long Island Sound until June 2010. While commander of the Gentian he wrote "Building an Effective Maritime Neighborhood Watch in the Caribbean" for the U.S. Naval Institute.
On 12 May 2012 he was awarded the National Ethnic Coalition Medal of Honor, which "honors ancestry groups that comprise America's unique cultural mosaic," at Ellis Island.
As a captain, he was Commander of Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound 2010–2013. He was promoted to Rear Admiral (lower half) 1 July 2013, and became the program executive officer and director of acquisition programs at USCG headquarters.
His other assignments have been deputy for mission support at USCG headquarters and deputy for Materiel Readiness at USCG Headquarters
On 10 October 2019, Vojvodich was awarded the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers Salutes Career Service Award in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
He retired from the Coast Guard 1 August 2020.
Honors The Joseph M. Vojvodich Award is given to a Coast Guard member who has fostered a community of inclusion by providing mentorship to historically underrepresented cadets at USCGA.
2017: RADM Joseph M. Vojvodich 2018: Lt. Christine Igisomar 2019: Lt. Cmdr. Celina H. Ladyga 2020: Coast Guard Academy Scholars (CGAS) Program Leadership Team (Chris McMunn, LT Timothy J. Kessell, LT Marvi M. Rivera, YNC Jennifer C. Rosen, and YNC Deborah J. Hamilton) 2023: Lt. Cmdr. Mark Braxton, USCG (ret)
BadgeCutterman Insignia - Officer1st rowLegion of Merit (2nd Award)2nd rowMeritorious Service MedalCoast Guard Commendation Medal (3rd Award)Coast Guard Achievement Medal3rd rowPresidential Unit CitationSecretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit AwardCoast Guard Unit Commendation (2nd Award)4th rowCoast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation (3rd Award)Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation (4th Award)Coast Guard "E" Ribbon (2nd Award)5th rowCoast Guard Bicentennial Unit CommendationNational Defense Service Medal (2nd Award)Global War on Terrorism Service Medal6th rowHumanitarian Service MedalTransportation 9-11 Ribbon Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon7th RowCoast Guard Sea Service Ribbon (3rd Award)Coast Guard Rifle Marksmanship RibbonCoast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon
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