R 061432Z JUL 10

ALCOAST 354/10
COMDTNOTE 5740
SUBJ: STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS - U.S. COAST GUARD AND U. S. ARMY
CORPS OF ENGINEERS STAFF TALKS
1. AS DISCUSSED IN MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES, STRONG PARTNERSHIPS ARE
CRITICAL TO ENHANCING OUR CAPABILITY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND CREDIBILITY
IN THE MARITIME DOMAIN. THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD (USCG) AND
UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (USACE) HELD OUR FIRST STAFF
TALKS ON 15 APR 10 TO CAPITALIZE ON OUR UNIQUE HISTORIES, CAN-DO
ATTITUDES, AND COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, ALLOWING US TO STRENGTHEN OUR
COLLABORATION AND IMPROVE OUR SERVICE DELIVERY TO THE NATION.
2. USCG AND USACE FIELD UNITS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF PARTNERING TO
MEET OUR OVERLAPPING MISSIONS, SPECIFICALLY, NAVIGATION SAFETY AND
DISASTER RESPONSE. THE OBJECTIVE OF OUR RECENT MEETING WAS TO
INSTITUTIONALIZE OUR COMMONALITY, FIND AREAS WHERE IMPROVED
COOPERATION IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, AND
DEVELOP STRATEGIES FOR THE FUTURE.
3. AS A RESULT OF THIS MEETING, WE HAVE DIRECTED OUR STAFFS TO ENGAGE
IN A CONTINUED DIALOGUE TO EXPLOIT THE STRENGTHS OF OUR
ORGANIZATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE SHARING CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH,
EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY OF A COMMON INLAND MULTI-PURPOSE VESSEL
DESIGN, AND UTILIZING THE COMMITTEE ON THE MARINE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM TO DEVELOP AN INTERAGENCY E-NAVIGATION STRATEGY. WE ARE ALSO
ENGAGING OUR RESPECTIVE STAFFS TO COORDINATE OUR EXERCISES AND TO
ESTABLISH AN INTERAGENCY TEAM TO EXPLORE WAYS TO BETTER INTEGRATE THE
USCG WITH USACE WATERWAY PLANNING PROJECTS TO IMPROVE IMPLEMENTATION
OF NECESSARY AIDS TO NAVIGATION MODIFICATIONS. BY WORKING TOGETHER WE
CAN FIND WAYS TO WORK SMARTER, PROVIDING A WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT
APPROACH THAT IS MORE EFFICIENT THAN WORKING SEPARATELY. TO MAKE THIS
EFFORT A SUCCESS, USCG DISTRICT AND SECTOR COMMANDERS AS WELL AS
USACE DIVISION AND DISTRICT COMMANDERS SHOULD ENGAGE THEIR
CORRESPONDING PEERS IN A FRANK DIALOGUE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR
IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY.
4. THE NEXT SET OF ANNUALIZED TALKS BETWEEN OUR TWO ORGANIZATIONS ARE
TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SPRING 2011. BEST PRACTICES AS WELL AS
NATIONAL POLICY CLARIFICATION NEEDS WILL BE SOLICITED FOR
CONSIDERATION IN NEXT YEARS AGENDA.
5. THIS IS A COORDINATED MESSAGE BETWEEN UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
AND UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
6. RELEASED BY ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, U.S. COAST GUARD AND LTG
ROBERT L. VAN ANTWERP, CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U.S. ARMY.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.