Brian Penoyer

Brian Penoyer is a senior associate (non-resident) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Brian most recently served as the Director of the Coast Guard Talent Management Transformation aligning the talents, desires, and experiences of each individual with needs of the Service to maximize the performance of both.  He previously served as the Assistant Commandant for Human Resources; the Commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District responsible for operations along the Pacific rim of Latin America; the Commander of the Coast Guard Force Readiness Command; and the Commander of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District responsible for operations in the Central Pacific.  Brian is a commercial vessel inspector, investigating officer, and experienced maritime incident responder who served during the Deepwater Horizon incident, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy and many other responses. Brian retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2024 as a rear admiral. Brian is a life member of the U.S. Naval Institute; his research interests include digital and talent management transformation, climate change and security, and emerging threats to global maritime governance and security.  Brian is a native of the Chicago area, and a proud University of Chicago graduate.  He holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Maryland and a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College.