gCaptain reports the result of a GAO report on the procurement of LCS-1 and LCS-2. Looks like perhaps a lesson in how not to manage a ship procurement program. The ships still have defects the crew has to deal with.
Two news releases that I thought might be of interest. They seem to show where the Coast Guard might be moving in the future. I’m not quoting the full text just giving the basics.
First relative to the Arctic:
“Officials at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy established the Center for Arctic Study and Policy (CASP) in a ceremony Sept. 19, attended by Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger, Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.
“The establishment of the Center is part of the Coast Guard’s strategic objectives for the Arctic which include improving awareness, modernizing governance, and broadening partnerships in the region.”
And relative to both Piracy and additional interest in the Pacific:
“The U.S. will become the 20th nation to join the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) on Tuesday.
“Established in 2006, ReCAAP’s mission is to enhance regional cooperation through information sharing, capacity building and cooperative arrangements in combating piracy and armed robbery against ships in the region. It is the first government‐to‐government agreement to promote this type of enhanced collaboration for fighting piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia.
“Coast Guard Rear Adm. Paul Thomas, the assistant commandant for prevention policy, will represent the U.S. as a governor on the ReCAAP council.”
DefenseNews reports that terrorists made an unsuccessful attack on a Pakistani Naval Base on September 6. Two attackers were killed and four captured. One Pakistani Petty officer was killed and there were seven wounded. Reportedly, interrogation of the captured terrorist lead to the arrest of others.
The Cutterman Association website has been recently renovated and it seems to be more active than it has been in the past. I’d like to call your attention to one post in particular. The Commandant has asked for questions and the Cuttermen Association is collecting any that might be cutterman related.
The US Naval Institute Blog has a nice post about the Coast Guard’s difficulties balancing military and non-military roles. You might want to take a look.
The Naval Institute News Service has published the Congressional Research Services Ronald O’Rourke’s latest views on the status of cutter recapitalization. http://news.usni.org/2014/08/26/document-coast-guard-cutter-report-congress-2
CNN reports USCGC Monomoy fired one round at an Iranian dhow after it appeared to be preparing to fire on the cutter’s small boat.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/26/world/u-s-coast-guard-iran-incident/index.html
I will not be able to work on the blog much for the next couple of weeks. Please continue the conversation. I will try to look in occasionally and will be back full time in September.
“The Stevens Institute of Technology in the U.S. has been selected as the lead institution for a new Center of Excellence for Maritime Research (CMR). The selection, announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate will provide Stevens with $2 million per year for five years. The center will also include the following partner institutions: MIT, University of Miami, Rutgers University, University of Puerto Rico and Elizabeth City State University. Stevens also has new partners with which it will collaborate on research projects, including LSU, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Connecticut.”
While I wonder if putting money into the Coast Guard’s own R&D Center, which is getting only a tiny fraction of the Department’s R&D budget, might not have been a better investment, I do find it promising that in making the announcement, Michael Bruno, Feiler Chair Professor and Dean of the School of Engineering and Science cited the Coast Guard as their “primary customer.” Reportedly Stevens already has a prior association with the DOD and NSA.
Thanks to Rex for the heads-up.
Happy Coast Guard Day to all who have worn the “true blue” and to all who wish them well. If you want to take a look back, you might check out the “Heritage” page. Meanwhile Grand Haven has been putting on its usual show of appreciation.
This year also marked the 75th anniversary of the formation of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Probably one of the greatest bargain in the history of the US government.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 