Rear Admiral Gordon Piché retired from the US Coast Guard in June, 1998, having served more than 34 years of increasing managerial experience with extensive recruitment, assessment, and personnel management on a national scale in positions as Director of Personnel management for the entire Coast Guard with more than 44,000 military and civilian employees; and Assistant Superintendent at the US Coast Guard Academy.

His career included 20 years in commercial vessel safety, port security and environmental protection developing, reviewing and approving comprehensive plans and complex systems for commercial ships and ports in full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. He directed and provided support services to all CG units in the Pacific for finance, personnel, civil rights, legal, medical, environmental and safety compliance; as well as directing the technical support programs for vessels, shore facilities and electronics/IRM as the Commander, Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific.