Admiral Thad W. Allen assumed the duties of the 23rd Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on May 25th, 2006. As such, he leads the largest component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), comprised of about 42,000 men and women on Active Duty, 7,000 civilians, 8,000 Reservists and 34,000 volunteer Auxiliarists. He is the only four-star Admiral of the Coast Guard, and is appointed for a four year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation of the US Senate. The Coast Guard Commandant is not a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He reports to the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense.
Two weeks ago I had the privilege of traveling throughout Alaska with several leaders from the Obama Administration to meet with local communities and see firsthand the challenges and opportunities emerging in an increasingly accessible Arctic region. The first night of this trip we were honored with a potluck dinner by the community of Nome Alaska. It was remarkable to see and hear from them just how impactful the Coast Guard, through its predecessor the U.S. Revenue Marine, has been in this region. This trip coincided with Operation Arctic Crossroads, a multi-agency initiative to provide medical, optometry, veterinarian, boating safety awareness and… Read more
The economic downturn that took root in the second half of 2008 is having wide-ranging impacts on our Nation. As the overall economy shrinks, pinching the maritime shipping industry, it has the potential to restrict the flow of goods coursing through the Nation’s Marine Transportation System (MTS) and that can compound our consumer woes. Rather than fostering violent extremism, the choking of the MTS is analogous to limiting blood flow to your heart. First, we must understand the importance of maritime trade. America’s modern MTS - an interconnected system of public and private seaports, waterways, terminals, intermodal transshipment points, vessels and people -… Read more
Related Link: http://www.uscg.mil/comdt
