Meet James Vass, National Commodore
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Biography of Commodore Vass
Commodore James Vass is currently serving as the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Commodore. He previously served as the Vice National Commodore from 2008-2010. He also served as the National Area Commodore Atlantic Area (West) from 2006 to 2008, as District Commodore, Eighth District Coastal Region 2004 to 2006 and as the District Chief of Staff from 2000 to 2002.
Commodore Vass graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia, in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. He began his military career as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers serving 6.5 years of active duty and retiring from the reserve program with 25+ years of total service. While serving on active duty, he served in Korea, Vietnam, Germany and the Virgin Islands.
After leaving the Army, Jim joined the DuPont Company and retired after 29 years of service as a Senior Project Engineer. While working with DuPont, he was stationed at 7 different sites responsible for major construction activity: Richmond, Virginia; Augusta, Georgia; Beaumont, Texas; Dordrecht the Netherlands; Parkersburg, West Virginia; Ulsan Korea; and Victoria, Texas.
Jim is a qualified instructor, vessel examiner, coxswain and qualification examiner. He has been recognized with the following awards during his association with The Auxiliary: Medal of Operational Merit, Auxiliary Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Sustained Auxiliary Service Award, and the Coast Guard Unit Commendation.
Jim is a Professional Engineer in the state of Texas and a Board Member of the local Coastal Conservation Association. Jim was born in Waynesboro, Virginia, and is currently living in Port O'Connor, Texas, on the Intercostal Waterway. Jim enjoys the recreational aspects of the water as a fisherman and hunter.