On April 30 , 2010 , Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that Allen would serve as the National Incident Commander for the federal government 's response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico . Even after his end of service as Commandant on May 25 , 2010 , Allen remained on active duty to continue serving as National Incident Commander through September of that year , which allowed the Coast Guard to have two active duty four-star admirals serving simultaneously for the first time in Coast Guard history
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Thad Allen