U.S. Coast Guard Captain Joseph Vojvobich has been put up for promotion to rear admiral, becoming the first officer with Korean ancestry to be considered for the rank.

Vojvodich was born to Korean Moon Soo-ja and Joseph Vojvodich, a U.S. soldier of Serbian descent who served in Korea.

The younger Vojvodich currently serves as the command of the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound. He will be promoted to the rank of rear admiral if he is successful in the eight to 10-month approval process.

Along with Vojvodich, another U.S. military officer of Korean descent recently joined the ranks of top officers.

Last month, Stephen Kurda of the U.S. Army was promoted to brigadier general as he took command of the 351 Civil Affairs Command in California. Kurda is Korean by birth with the name Choi Sang-gap. His birth family experienced difficulties after his father died when Kurda was two years old, and he was adopted by U.S. parents when he was 10 years old.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)