Edwin J. Roland
| Edwin J. Roland | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Birth name | Edwin John Roland |
| Born |
11 February 1905 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Died | 16 March 1985 (aged 80) St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |  United States Coast Guard |
| Rank |
 Admiral
|
| Commands held | Commandant of the Coast Guard, USCGC Mackinaw (WAGB-83) |
Edwin John Roland (February 11, 1905 – March 16, 1985), was a United States Coast Guard admiral and served as the twelfth Commandant of the Coast Guard from 1962 to 1966. During his tenure, Roland oversaw the replacement of many World War II era cutters under fleet modernization programs. He also assisted the U.S. Navy with operations in Vietnam by supplying crews and cutters for Operation Market Time. Roland was noted for his support in efforts to bring international safety standards to merchant shipping. Although Roland was already retired when the service was transferred from the Department of Treasury to the newly formed Department of Transportation in 1967, he was largely responsible for the advance planning for the move and the Coast Guard retaining its military responsibilities along with its transportation related functions.
He was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. Growing up in Buffalo, he attended Canisius High School and later Canisius College in the city. He was accepted as a cadet at the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1926. While at the Academy, he served as captain of the award-winning football squad, also playing on the baseball and basketball squads. He graduated from the Coast Guard Academy and was commissioned as an ensign 15 May 1929.
Following graduation from the Academy, he reported aboard USCGC Shaw to serve as gunnery officer from 1929–1930 and as gunnery officer aboard USCGC Wilkes in 1930–1931. Shaw and Wilkes were a part of the destroyer force home-ported out of New London, Connecticut, and assigned the Rum Patrol. Roland was promoted 15 May 1931 to lieutenant (junior grade) and under his leadership, both cutters won gunnery trophies and he won a commendation for his contribution to the awards. In addition to his duties on the cutters, he was captain of the Coast Guard football squad that won the President's Cup in competition with teams from the Army, Navy and Marines in 1931. The President's Cup trophy was presented by Lou Henry Hoover, wife of President Herbert Hoover and accepted by Roland on behalf of the Coast Guard. In early 1932, he was in charge of target observation and repair for Destroyer Force cutters in the Gulf of Mexico and off Norfolk, Virginia. From September 1932 to 1934, he served as gunnery officer and navigator aboard the USCGC Escanaba, based out of Grand Haven, Michigan. While serving on Escanaba Roland was promoted to lieutenant 15 May 1933.
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