John S. Luce is the Director of the National Pollution Funds Center (NPFC). He is responsible for administering all aspects of the liability and compensation provisions of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, including the management of the multi-billion dollar Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. Under his leadership, the NPFC provides money for the prompt federal response to oil pollution incidents. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is also available to pay claims to those damaged by oil spills when polluters do not. The NPFC ensures “the polluter pays” by recovering removal costs and damages paid from the fund. In addition, the NPFC administers the Certificate of Financial Responsibility program ensuring that vessels operating in U.S. waters have the financial ability to cover their pollution liability.
Prior to the NPFC Mr. Luce served in the Office of the General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security as an attorney advisor working on issues of congressional oversight, strategic oversight (OIG and GAO), and litigation. He was previously appointed by the Secretary of Commerce as General Counsel for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from 2018 to 2021. He retired from the Coast Guard in 2018. During his time on active duty, his leadership assignments included Chief of General Law, Executive Assistant to the Judge Advocate General and Chief of Legal Policy and Program Development, and Chief of Claims and Litigation. He also served as an admiralty trial attorney at the Department of Justice, Coast Guard senior appellate government counsel, and staff attorney assignments in operational law and procurement.
In addition to his legal assignments, Mr. Luce served as a Coast Guard Budget and Programs Reviewer. Prior to attending law school, he served aboard the Coast Guard Cutter HORNBEAM and at Coast Guard Headquarters. Mr. Luce is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy and The George Washington University Law School.