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Shipmates

I just received this video that was presented at a SONY executive meeting from Rear Admiral Rob Parker who is the "ops boss" at U.S. Southern Command. Admiral Stavridis is moving SOUTHCOM into social media as well, including his own blog.

This video is thought provoking and makes a great case for lifelong learning and understanding the current generational gap. We need to start thinking now about how we are going to both manage and leverage the exponentially increasing volume of information.

ADM A

Congratulations to Adolf Adrion

Admiral Allen makes comments to the audience after accepting an Award from NAMMA.
Originally uploaded by uscgpress

This is an addition to the previous post ...

Yesterday after receiving the Joe R. Gerson Humanitarian Award on behalf of the Coast Guard I had the privilege of sharing some quality time with Mr. Adolf Adrion, the CEO of Hapag-Lloyd and a career Seafarer, who started his career with Hapag-Lloyd as a Cadet at the age of 17. Mr. Adrion was recognized by NAMMA with this year's Seafarer Salute Award. His acceptance remarks reminded me once again of the critical role our seafarers play in the vitality and prosperity of the maritime transportation sytem. I too salute Mr. Lloyd and all the World's Seafarers for their vital, yet underappreciated contributions.

In my remarks I reverted to being a child of the 1960's and evoked the lyrics of Leonard Cohen in his song "Susanne" ...

"And Jesus was a Sailor
When he walked upon the water,
And he spent a long time watching
from his lonely wooden tower.
And when he knew for certain
only drowning men could see him,
he said "All men shall be sailors then
until the sea shall free them" ..."

You may recall the last phrase as the title of a book written by Robert Frump that details the loss of the MARINE ELECTRIC. He has also just released a new book TWO TANKERS DOWN, the story of the amazing rescue operations when two tankers split in half off Cape Cod in 1952.

ADM A

World Maritime Day Conference

Shipmates,

Yesterday I attended the World Maritime Day Conference. 2008 marks the 31st observance of World Maritime Day and the 60th anniversary of the founding of the International Maritime Organization (link). The IMO milestone is based on the adoption of the IMO Convention by the United Nations in Geneva in 1948. The celebration traditionally takes place in London where IMO is located and in one other parallel event. The parallel event this year was held in Greece. The United States Coast Guard will host the parallel event next year and you will hear more about that in future months.

The U.S. observance was held today in New York and was sponsored by the North American Marine Environmental Protection Association (NAMEPA) and the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA) which provides ministry to seafarers through port chaplains.

I participated in two events, an evening dinner, and conducted several media interviews. At the NAMMA luncheon I accepted on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard the Joe R. Gerson Humanitarian Award . We have worked very hard in the last several years to insure the equitable treatment of seafarers. This award acknowledges the hard work and dedication of our people at the port level who must manage the significant challenges related to the treatment of seafarers in an increasingly security conscious operating environment and limited access to and from waterfront facilities and vessels. It also recognizes our attempts to gain legislation to protect seafarers who are abandoned by less than honorable companies.

I also participated on a NAMEPA sponsored panel with Captain Andy Windbow from IMO and Adolf Adrion, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd one of the world's largest container shipping companies. The topic was the power of partnerships. Topics raised and discussed with the audience included our recent changes to the Marine Safety Program, TWIC implementation, amendments to MARPOL Annex VI (Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships), piracy in the Horn of Africa, and the general challenges associated with global shipping.

We had representatives at two other panels. RADM Brian Salerno participated in the panel; "Terminal Access ? A Barrier to Seafarers." Just this week, RADM Salerno issued an ALCOAST on this topic that is a good reminder of the need to recognize the need for Seafarers to have shore leave opportunities and for Seafarer Welfare Organizations to have reasonable access to the facilities necessary to provide their valued services.

CDR Mike Roldan also participated in the panel; "Oil Reception Facilities ? Tool for Facilitating Compliance"

Captain Bob O'Brien from Sector New York led a group of local Coast Guard participants as well.

Our ability to partner, not only with industry, but non-governmental organizations, associations, and international governing bodies is critical to achieving global solutions and aligning what we are required to do as regulators domestically. These relationships are particularly critical in complex issues such as air emissions from ships, ballast water management/invasive species, and seafarer access in U.S. ports.

We thank both NAMMA and NAMEPA for their support, partnership and leadership.

UPDATED and Bumped: Guest post by Ms. Terri Dickerson, Director, Coast Guard Office of Civil Rights

UPDATE below in Italics

This post responds to a comment on Admiral Allen's Diversity Advisory Council post. The commenter requested (1) an update on the progress of a Functional Review that I requested, and (2) the status of Equal Opportunity (EO) Review reports.

Functional Review
As stated in my 4 September message to the workforce, the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) periodically conducts functional reviews of its sub-components' EEO offices. I requested DHS undertake such a review of the Coast Guard, and as of 25 September, it is underway. At its onset, I informed all in the Coast Guard leadership that the effort had begun, and asked them to encourage any personnel contacted to give reviewers their cooperation.

The review aligns with the Commandant's direction that offices be proactive and forward-leaning in maintaining and improving policy, operations, and workplace climate and environment. A number of personnel are being interviewed service-wide, and my office has responded to all requests made of us by the reviewers. I have been advised that the effort will conclude by the end of the calendar year. At its conclusion, results will be made available to all personnel.

EO Review Reports
The Coast Guard conducts various self-assessment activities as a means to monitor progress and identify areas where barriers may operate to exclude groups. Federal agencies employ various means to assess themselves, and Equal Opportunity Reviews are one of Coast Guard?s means. The program consists primarily of a pre-visit survey of questions which help gauge unit effectiveness from an EO standpoint, followed by a site visit at which the team conducts interviews and focus groups. Since FY 2006, we have met our goals of completing as many as 22 reviews per year.

Before our team leaves the site, it provides the command an outbrief. The team subsequently produces a written report, directed to the commanding officer, that communicates findings, highlights best practices and areas of concern, and offers recommendations. Timely written reports to the unit are an important part of the review and my staff is working aggressively to reduce the delivery time.

The commenter asked if we have a new policy with regard to EO review reports, and we do not. However, we do have a new standard for the analysis in the reports. As one example, the team now offers data by which the CO may compare the unit to Coast Guard benchmarks. Additionally, the reports now culminate in recommendations based on a full analysis of data arising from the questionnaire and on-site activities. I am very proud of the analytical framework around which my staff is completing these activities. Feedback indicates that the care the team exercises is offering the units they inspect a solid basis from which to form action plans.

{This post has been updated to address follow up questions raised in the comments section. At the time I joined Coast Guard (April 2006), 9 reports were pending. Further analysis identified report quality in addition to timeliness, as main factors. To eliminate the backlog, I approved some of the reports, but with the directive that future reports reflect new standards for analysis and preparation. Throughout the following year, the division (CG-00H2) continued to conduct reviews (22 total) but was unable to respond to the new report-writing standards. (See Timeline )

In March 2008, I provided more guidance which exemplified the benchmarks for sufficient reports. The division initially held a series of meetings, ultimately crafting a strategy for report production by field and headquarters civil rights personnel. In August 2008, the division abandoned the field re-write strategy, and developed a robust plan for reaching sufficiency. As of August and through today, with ardent and admirable focus and commitment, my staff has produced, and I have signed and forwarded to commands 20 reports. We could not achieve this without our remarkable division leadership and teamwork. By the end of November, they will have produced and I will have signed another 24. At the current pace, we will clear all reports by the end of the year, placing us back on track with the 45-day guidance expressed in our EO Manual.

Important Note: We are pleased about and welcome new interest in our EO Review program and can assure readers that throughout this process the Coast Guard has met its statutory obligations. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission directs agencies to self-monitor; each does so by its own means. Some that perform similar workforce audits do so remotely, that is, without visits. Our workforce is served by the Coast Guard?s commitment to the substantially more resource intensive yet ever more effective on-site review. Moreover, we are better stewards when our after action reports offer service-wide benchmarks, cohesive analyses, and recommendations aligned specifically to findings at the location ? standards which our reports now achieve!}

Today we updated the "What's New" section of our website with the first in a series summarizing the EO Review completed over the last three years. Thank you for your interest in these programs. We encourage you to visit our website. If you do, please visit our "What?s New" section under the "News" button. You can also provide comments submit questions through the "Contact Us" link.

Social Networks

Shipmates,

I recently had a conversation on social media with my good friend Rear Admiral Rich Schneider (USCGR Retired) who is also the President of Norwich University. Last year they published this story on their school website. I thought it was worth posting again for our community. The social media is a powerful tool, but as we noted in a previous post there are security issues and reasons to act with good judgement.

ADM A

Meeting with Prospective Chief Petty Officers

CCTI photo
Originally uploaded by uscgpress

I was pleased to welcome five prospective Chief Petty Officers who will participate in the Chiefs Call To Initiation this Friday. Left to right:

Leeson, Seth SKC; (NAVCEN)
Long, Wayne ETC (CGPC)
Bates, Thomas OSC; (HQ - CC)
Me
Caler, Jeffrey ITC; (HSC)
Hernandez, Teresa OSC; (OSC- COOP)

ADM A

Commandant's Diversity Advisory Council

Shipmates,

The Diversity Advisory Council is meeting at HQ this week and I spent an hour with the group this morning with RADM Breckenridge, RDML Neptun and Mr. Curt Odom. There were a number of issues raised at the last meeting and we discussed the current status and progress being made.

Remember, these are "works in progress" ... but here are some updates.

1. Reserve/Auxiliary "C" School Quotas: There are some business processes and policies that are impeding access for our Reservists and Auxiliarists to attend "C" School. For example, the current e-mail notification process excludes personnel who do not have access to the Coast Guard Data Network (CGDN). The new internet access to Outlook will address part of this problem, for members running Windows platforms, but we need to make sure all our personnel have access. We are also looking at how quotas are prioritized between Active, Reserve, Civilian and Auxiliary personnel.

2. To increase cultural awareness and promote language skills we are experimenting with an online "Technology Mediated Language Training" program through the University of Maryland Center for Advanced Study of Language. The software program is "Tell Me More" by Auralog, Inc. We are conducting a one year test to see if this has servicewide potential.

3. The DAC believes and I concur that we need to include "generational" diversity training for our more "mature" members as we currently do at the CPO Academy.

4. We are reviewing procedures for using additional reservists to assist with recruiting in those geographical areas where reserve recruiting is most challenging/where we have the greatest needs.

5. An update on our Strategic Metropolitan Area Recruiting Territory (SMART) initiative has resulted in an increase in minority enlisted accessions from 17% to 35% since its implementation.

6. Master Chief Bowen and I concur with the DAC?s conclusion that women and minorities are underepresented in high visibility (i.e. Company Commander, CMC) and command cadre positions (OIC, XPO, EPO). We need a combination of better education on A school options, ASVAB preparation, involvement of mentors/CMCs, and use of role models.

7. The DAC proposes providing better resources for commands to accommodate the diversity of religious groups in the Coast Guard. There are two parts to this issue as we move forward, the first is greater visibility of religious pluralism and the second is the role of our Chaplain corps.

8. We discussed social networking tools and the creation of this Blog and the FACEBOOK page. I also previously tasked the DAC to provide feedback on transparency in the Service and that dialogue continues. With a direct line of communication available to members, there will always be a tension between the traditional chain of command and the need to be responsive to members. The DAC comments reflect that tension, but the comments also convey transparency should only be limited in cases where it will negatively affect the execution and support of our missions. We must work through that tension and understand that the convergence of information technology and social networks creates transparency and we don't control the environment. See my previous comments on social media, we will continue the dialogue.

9. We are reviewing the temporary separation policy to see if we can provide greater flexibility to accommodate the needs of our workforce.

10. The DAC had a concern that there may be a nexus between performance evaluations and whether the member is pregnant. We are reviewing data and conducting surveys on performance evaluations of pregnant members and will report our findings once the review is complete.

As I noted above these are works in progress, but I wanted to let you know the topics we are discussing and the world of work that the DAC is creating.

I was also advised today by our human resources folks that we achieved 100% of our active duty recruiting mission (goal) and 94% of the Reserve mission for FY08. Our quality of recruits based on a combination of the Armed Forces Qualification Test composite scores and the percent of our recruits in the top 50% was the highest of all services and continues to rise for the second year in a row. So, we are recruiting a more diverse work force and improving the quality of enlisted people coming into the Coast Guard. As I noted in an interview with the New London Day earlier in the month, we need to improve minority accessions and retention in the officer corps and we are working on it.

ADM A

Meeting with the Director General, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency

Shipmates,
Today I had a very interesting and productive meeting with Admiral Dato Mohd Amdan Bin Kurish, the Director General of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). This is a new agency in Malaysia that has been operating since 30 November 2005. We have been exchanging information with the MMEA since 2007, deploying Mobile Training Teams, and have provided training through our International Maritime Officers Course in Yorktown.

Malaysian lies in the strategic confluence of the Straits of Malacca, the South China Sea, the Sulawesi Sea, and the Sulu Sea which separates Malaysia from the Philippines. Malaysia works with its regional neighbors, Indonesia, The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand to reduce piracy, transnational crime, and illegal immigration.

The meeting was very cordial and Admiral Amdan and I have agreed to work closely to exchange best practices and further our cooperation in the region.

ADM A

Continuing the Conversation on Social Media and the Coast Guard

Thanks to the feedback you have provided to us I have had a number of in depth conversations with the HQ staff regarding social media, web access, CGDN security, costs associated with bandwidth, policy issues related to content within the .mil domain, and access to internet sites. Following the recent Coast Guard Foundation Dinner in New York, Rear Admiral Dave Glenn (CG-6) and I had breakfast and discussed the current challenges we collectively face.

Today I intend to begin a discussion which will include you as to how we should move forward. We are going to start with security and the posting below is from CG-6. One of our challenges is that no single program or office in CGHQ owns all of the pieces to problem or solution. CG-6 is responsible for the infrastructure within the .mil domain and the gateways to the internet through our points of presence. However, they are not free actors. There are federal, Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and Coast Guard laws, rules, and regulations that apply. That is not to say some shouldn?t or couldn?t be changed, but we need to know what it is we intend to do with the convergence of improved information technology and social networks. We need to start with the end in mind.

Beyond the CG-6 world of bits and bytes, lies the policy world of content. This is a combination of public affairs, strategic communications, external outreach, stakeholder relations, and, in many cases, mission execution itself.

Extending the discussion further, as some of you have already done in your comments and other blogs, we need to understand the potential for these technology and social networks to enhance our operations. We already coordinate tactical operations through chat rooms. We are offered the opportunity to rethink our command and control relationship and how information (in any format or medium) is transmitted from the location of operations to a command center.

The Coast Guard also enhances mission execution when we leverage our capabilities with other federal, state, local and private sector entities. Social networking offers this same opportunity to leverage communications and external relations across a much broader spectrum.

As you can see we have technical infrastructure and architecture issues, security and access issues, content issues, and internal governance issues related to how we should organize and execute our strategic intent across these programs area. This discussion is well underway at HQ.

So with those comments in mind let?s hear what CG-6 has to say ...

ADM A

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It is a fact of Coast Guard life that our IT system is central to every function required by the Coast Guard to execute and support every mission. Accordingly, the security, capacity and availability of this system set the terms and conditions of use in terms of what capabilities we provide to users, particularly how much external interface we allow. One of our greatest management challenges is the balance between access and security. As an organization, we need to make deliberate business decisions, based on risk, benefit and mitigation factors, as to exactly when, how and from what sites and applications we expose the network. The threats are real with a current average of over 300,000 malware attacks against the Coast Guard?s network every month.

This is not just a Coast Guard issue. In fact, this is a national and homeland security issue. Recently, Secretary Chertoff himself has been actively discussing this topic, both on the DHS Leadership Journal and at a recent bloggers roundtable discussion.

Some specific feedback you provided commented on the blocking of certain sites. It is currently against CG policy to use public social networking sites from the CGDN. It is the extreme popularity of social networking sites that make them a target rich environment for people intent to cause harm via web technology. The openness of the social networking sites allow scam artists and virus writers new ways to package and deliver their malicious payloads. Social networking sites are fast becoming the most fertile grounds for spreading malicious software and Internet scams, as reported by major internet security companies.

Currently, we use a commercial-off-the-shelf product to filter our internet traffic. The CG Internet Web Filtering Appliance blocks categories of sites that might compromise the CGDN or are inappropriate for official use. We choose the categories to block; the commercial provider is responsible for categorizing individual sites. This may result in some popular social media sites being blocked while others are not. For example Google is in the search engine category and is not blocked. Twitter and Facebook are in a social networking category that is blocked. In light of the dynamic information environment we will review this policy and how it is currently implemented.

For now, the authoritative sources for CG info for CG personnel will be on our network, not in the public domain. We will continue to cross post as much as we can to the official public domain sites to encourage other sources of feedback and provide access to the workforce when not at work. If you feel we should change our approach, let?s hear your business argument.

Rear Admiral Dave Glenn, CG-6, CIO

(Note from Adm A--FYI, my Facebook page is managed through a stand alone computer that does not connect to the CGDN)

New York Coast Guard Foundation Dinner

As I noted earlier, I was honored to attend the annual New York Coast Foundation Dinner last night. I had the additional honor to meet the representatives of the units and their families. Below is a press release issued by the Foundation in advance of the dinner that provides the details (one correction: VADM Crea stood in for VADM Papp who is in Europe). It was an extraordinary event held on Ellis Island ... our thanks to the Foundation.


Immediately below are my closing remarks from last night ...

ADM A

Tonight, you have heard amazing stories of sacrifice, heroism and hope...and it is my great honor to help close the evening.

I face many challenges in my job, but whatever problems we face in the endless "tyranny of the present" in Washington are dwarfed and become inconsequential compared to these celebrations of who we are and what we do in the service of our country and humanity.

So tonight I stand before you
as I have on other occasions
with other heroes
to marvel at the work of our Guardians.

And each time we have been breathless at what they did
we wonder "is it possible for anyone to do more."

Yes, it is possible...and the tradition continues this evening.

Those we have honored here this evening gave 31 people back their lives.

31 people returned to families and loved ones,
31 lives resumed that had been ransomed by nature and circumstance,
31 reasons why the men and women of the United States Coast Guard get up every morning and go to work.

It is very fitting that these individuals are being recognized in this remarkable building on this island that gave more than 12 million people a new life.

From 1892 when Annie Moore, a 15-year-old girl from County Cork, Ireland became the first immigrant to land on Ellis Island to 1954 when Norwegian merchant seaman Arne Peterssen became the last,
this island,
the lady that stands watch in the harbor
this building
have represented the future,
and more importantly the hope for generations that would build this Nation.

Their perseverance, courage and selfless actions mirror the heroism we recognize tonight.

America's voyage is still underway, sustained by the strength of our people who hail from all points on the globe

We should also remember that the origins of our Coast Guard lie in this harbor as well. We are distinctly American and a child of the Revolutionary War.

It was less than a mile from here that Alexander Hamilton and his classmates from Kings College (what would become Columbia University) dragged cannons away from Battery Park to avoid their capture by the invading British forces in 1775. He would later serve throughout the war as George Washington?s aide de camp.

It was here following the Revolution that Hamilton wrote Federalist Paper Number 12, which stated "A few armed vessels, judiciously stationed at the entrances of our ports, might at a small expense be made useful sentinels of the laws."

It was a short distance up the Hudson River where Hamilton rowed a small boat across from Manhattan to Weehawken, New Jersey to meet Aaron Burr in a duel in 1804.

It is short walk from Battery Park where those cannons stood to Trinity Church where Hamilton lies at rest.

It was there following the attacks of 9/11 that Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers assembled and cleaned the ashes from his grave.

And to the east lies Governor?s Island which holds a special place in many of our hearts ? I would note that the three Allen children attended P.S. 26 there!

These commingled histories are important.
this island,
this harbor,
our Coast Guard

I am reminded of Franklin Roosevelt's comment on America?s lineage. "Remember always, that all of us are descended from immigrants and revolutionists".

And Jack Parr once said "immigration is the sincerest form of flattery."


The American dream has to be nurtured, protected and rescued by those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. So as we honor our Guardians tonight let us also honor the crew of helicopter 6505.

Commander Tom Nelson, Lieutenant Commander Andrew Wischmeier, Petty Officer First Class David Skimin, and Petty Officer Second Class Joshua Nichols made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country.

In that awful time of pain and loss
as we grieved and came to together as a family for our shipmates,
the Coast Guard Foundation was there with us.

Tending the families of the fallen,
Tending to the Coast Guard family.

So, to the Coast Guard Foundation
Once again, we are in your debt.
Once again you have rescued the rescuers.

God Bless the Coast Guard Foundation.

FOUNDATION PRESS RELEASE

STONINGTON, Conn., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today its 28th Annual Salute event recognizing the United States Coast Guard. Scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum in New York Harbor, the Annual Salute will honor a select group of Coast Guard members with the Coast Guard Foundation Awards for Heroism. The gala will be emceed by Robert J. Flynn, a director of the Coast Guard Foundation and president of Mallory Jones Lynch Flynn & Assoc. Inc., and feature ceremonial music by the United States Coast Guard Band. Speakers will include Commandant Thad Allen who will also present awards, and Atlantic Area Commander, Vice Admiral Robert J. Papp, who will present colors. In addition to celebrating exemplary service, the event will raise funds to support the Foundation's important projects and programs including the Evergreen Fund college scholarship for children, as well as grants for enlistees that improve the lives and performance of Coast Guard members, their families and United States Coast Guard Academy cadets.
"Our Annual Salute event is a proud expression of our gratitude for the bravery and heroism our Coast Guard members demonstrate everyday to keep Americans safe," said Anne Brengle, president of the Coast Guard Foundation. "We are proud to welcome our partners and the community to join us in honoring our impressive Coast Guard men and women, and to support our important year-round efforts to help enhance service and opportunities for members and their families."
The Coast Guard Foundation Awards for Heroism will honor the heroic efforts demonstrated during the March 23, 2008 Alaska Ranger fishing vessel rescue by LT James K. Terrell, AMT2 Alfred L. Musgrave, MK2 Barry D. Lawson; AST2 Obrien Hollow; AMT2 Robert R. DeBolt and AST3 Abram A. Heller.
The rescue of eight Alaska Ranger mariners has been described as the most courageous and successful maritime search and rescue effort in modern history. In the early morning hours of March 23, 2008, the Alaska Ranger, a 192-foot trawler with 47 persons on board, sank in the frigid Bering Sea 120 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Battling gale force 30-knot winds; rough 12-foot swells, near freezing seas and exposure, the honorees demonstrated incredible strength of character and resolve to successfully rescue eight mariners adrift in the sea without the benefit of lifeboats. While the efforts of all parties involved in the rescue were heroic, the actions of the honorees were truly remarkable.
In recognition of successful search and rescue cases (responding to 18 SAR cases and saving 11 lives) conducted during the extremely arduous 2007-2008 ice season, CG Station Saginaw River, represented by BM2 Anthony J. Vavrek and SN Matthew J. Bell, will also be presented with awards. While search and rescue is difficult under normal conditions, the ice rescues executed were compounded by snowstorms, extreme temperatures and ever-changing conditions on the ice.
The Coast Guard annual gala will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2008; beginning at 7:00 pm with a cocktail reception followed by a dinner reception beginning at 8:00 pm. Transport to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum will be available by ferry, with boarding at 6:30 pm departing from Battery Park. For more information on the Coast Guard Foundation's 28th Annual Salute to the United States Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Foundation or for interest in supporting its work, please visit the Coast Guard Foundation website www.cgfdn.org.
About The Coast Guard Foundation
The Coast Guard Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1969. It was initially created to provide funds for academic, athletic, and morale needs of the Coast Guard Academy and its cadets, which were not covered by federal operational funding. In 1986, the Foundation expanded its charter to support projects that enhance the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families. A Board of 100 Trustees from all parts of the country governs the Foundation. The Trustees elect from their members a 30 person Board of Directors to oversee the management of the Foundation. Located in Stonington, Connecticut, the Foundation employs a staff of ten civilians responsible for meeting the Foundation's objectives and working closely with the Coast Guard on all issues.
SOURCE The Coast Guard Foundation