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Security Levels
DEPARTMENT
OF HOMELAND SECURITY TRANSITION UPDATE NUMBER THREE
ALCOAST 042/03
R 242135Z JAN 03
ALCOAST 042/03
COMDTNOTE 5740
SUBJ: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TRANSITION UPDATE NUMBER THREE
1. THIS ALCOAST IS AN UPDATE FOR TEAM COAST GUARD ON THE PRESIDENTS PLAN FOR COAST GUARD TRANSITION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) TO THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS).
2. ON 24 JAN 03 DHS STOOD UP ON SCHEDULE. THIS FOLLOWS ACTION BY THE US SENATE ON 22 JAN 03 TO CONFIRM FORMER PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR THOMAS RIDGE AS THE SECRETARY OF DHS.
3. STAND UP OF DHS MARKS A SIGNIFICANT EVENT FOR OUR NATION AS THE PRESIDENT ASSEMBLES 22 DISPARATE AGENCIES INTO A NEW TEAM FOCUSED ON GREATER PREPAREDNESS AND CAPABILITY FOR OUR HOMELAND SECURITY. OUR COAST GUARD WILL BE A PROMINENT PLAYER ON THE NEW TEAM. DURING HIS CONFIRMATION HEARING BEFORE THE US SENATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, SECRETARY RIDGE ADDRESSED THE COAST GUARDS ROLE IN THE NEW DEPARTMENT. EXCERPTS FROM HIS TESTIMONY FOLLOW.
4. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, WHO LIVE UNDER THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE SEMPER PARATUS OR ALWAYS READY, HAVE BEEN PERFORMING THE MISSION OF HOMELAND SECURITY IN A COMPLEX AND DANGEROUS MARITIME ENVIRONMENT FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS. THE COAST GUARDS FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES -- PREPAREDNESS, PROTECTION, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY CUT ACROSS ALL FACETS OF THE DEPARTMENTS MISSION. EVERY DAY SINCE THE SEPTEMBER 11TH TERRORIST ATTACKS, THE COAST GUARD PUSHES OUR MARITIME BORDERS FARTHER FROM SHORE. ALL SHIPS BOUND FOR THE U.S., REGARDLESS OF REGISTRY, FACE A MULTI LAYERED, INTERAGENCY SECURITY SCREENING PROCESS IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND OPERATIONAL STANDARDS ENFORCEMENT, PLUS RANDOM BOARDINGS. VESSELS NOW MUST PROVIDE 96 HOUR ADVANCE NOTICE OF ARRIVAL TO THE COAST GUARD NATIONAL VESSEL MOVEMENT CENTER, INCLUDING DETAILED CREW AND PASSENGER INFORMATION, CARGO DETAILS, AND VOYAGE HISTORY. THE COAST GUARD HAS ALSO CREATED HIGHLY TRAINED AND SPECIALLY EQUIPPED MARITIME SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAMS TO ADD AN EXTRA LAYER OF SECURITY AND ADDITIONAL QUICK RESPONSE CAPABILITIES IN KEY U.S. PORTS. BUT LET ME MAKE ONE THING CLEAR. THE NEW DEPARTMENT WILL NOT LOSE FOCUS OF THE COAST GUARDS OTHER CRITICAL MISSIONS. FROM SEARCH AND RESCUE, ANTI DRUG AND ILLEGAL MIGRANT PATROLS TO FISHERIES ENFORCEMENT AND AIDS TO NAVIGATION, I WILL WORK PERSONALLY TO ENSURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE ENTIRETY OF THE COAST GUARD MISSION. NO BRANCH OF THE ARMED FORCES HAS AS MUCH HISTORY IN PROTECTING THE HOMELAND, AND SHOULD I BE CONFIRMED AS SECRETARY, I CAN THINK OF NO HONOR THAT WOULD MAKE ME MORE PROUD THAN CALLING MYSELF A SERVICE SECRETARY OF THE COAST GUARD.
5. A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF SECRETARY RIDGES TESTIMONY AT HIS CONFIRMATION HEARING BEFORE THE SENATE GOVT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP://WWW.SENATE.GOV. ADDITIONAL DHS INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE 27 JAN 03 AT HTTP://WWW.DHS.GOV. COAST GUARD SPECIFIC DHS TRANSITION INFORMATION REMAINS AVAILABLE AT HTTP://DEV.MLCA.USCG.MIL/TRANSITIONTEAM/DEFAULT.CFM.
6. DHS INTERIM HEADQUARTERS WILL BE LOCATED AT THE NEBRASKA AVENUE CENTER (NAC) IN WASHINGTON DC. THE NAC IS A USN FACILITY SHARED BY THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY. DHS WILL OCCUPY THE SPACE THAT HAS BEEN USED BY THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY STAFF. THE NEBRASKA AVENUE CENTER MEETS DHS SECURITY REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDES THE CONNECTIVITY NEEDED TO BEGIN OPERATIONS IMMEDIATELY. THIS INCLUDES COMPUTERS AND SECURE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT THAT WILL PROVIDE THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT VIDEO LINK AND TELECONFERENCING WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND STATE GOVERNMENTS. DHS HQ WILL REMAIN AT THE NAC FOR THE NEAR FUTURE. IT IS EXPECTED THAT WASHINGTON DC BASED EMPLOYEES OF THE AGENCIES THAT WILL JOIN THE DEPARTMENT, STARTING MARCH 1, WILL REMAIN AT THEIR CURRENT LOCATIONS.
7. THE CONFIRMATION OF SECRETARY RIDGE AND THE FIRST DAY OF DHS OPERATIONS ARE THE FIRST MAJOR MILESTONES OF OUR TRANSITION TO THE NEW DEPARTMENT. ON 01 MAR 03, THE COAST GUARD WILL REPORT FOR DUTY TO THIS NEW DEPARTMENT AND OUR NEW SECRETARY. OUR GOALS THROUGHOUT THIS TRANSITION ARE TO CONTRIBUTE IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE AS AN INTEGRAL TEAM MEMBER OF THE NEW DEPARTMENT AND TO ENSURE THAT WE SUSTAIN OUR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE ACROSS THE FULL SPECTRUM OF COAST GUARD MISSIONS. SEMPER PARATUS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
9. VICE ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN CHIEF OF STAFF SENDS.
BT
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