Sector Commands
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Sector Commands THE NEW Sector Commands By Michael Shumaker After September 11, the Maritime Homeland commands established in 1996 in New York and Baltimore, Security mission joined Search and Rescue (SAR) as the and later, San Diego. The late Rear Adm. Richard E. Bennis, top priorities of the United States Coast Guard. In his former Commanding Officer of Activities New York, said of January 2004 Commandant’s message to all Coast Guard the Activities model, “You know it was one-stop shopping personnel, Adm. Thomas Collins stressed that the need to for the community and it was one-stop shopping for the strengthen unity of command necessitated the adoption of Coast Guard. Everybody knew the buck stopped here. They integrated, operational field commands, called Sectors. knew exactly where to go. … We always have our missions “This initiative will best position the Coast Guard to sup- and we are a multi-mission organization, and you saw that port our Secretary in achieving unity of purpose as one in Activities New York.” team for one fight.” While all Coast Guard field commands performed Groups, Marine Safety Offices (MSO), and Vessel Traffic admirably after September 11, the Activities commands in Shinn Andrew PA3 by USCG photo Service (VTS), are being merged into Sector Commands. particular demonstrated the unity of effort, mission flexibili- Previously, a Group and its units provided SAR, maritime ty, and responsiveness required for today’s Maritime law enforcement, and recreational boating safety, and main- Homeland Security mission. Capt. Roger Peoples, former tained aids to navigation. MSOs performed complementa- Commanding Officer of Activities Baltimore, whose respon- ry activities, enforcing federal laws and regulations related sibilities included the maritime security of Washington, to the safety and security of vessels, port facilities, and the D.C., on September 11, observed, “While the Coast Guard marine environment, and assisting other law enforcement responded well to 9/11 in all of our nation’s ports, Coast agencies. The new Sector organizations are based on the Guard leadership took special notice of the efficiency and Activities prototype unity of effort demonstrated by Activities New York and 24 Sector Commands Activities Baltimore in ensuring maritime security following COAST GUARD SECTOR ORGANIZATION the attacks in New York City and near our nation’s capital.” Before 2004, field operations in a single port fell under mul- The new Sector organizational construct represents a tiple, mission-based commands (Group, MSO, and VTS) transformation from a Coast Guard traditionally organized that were physically dispersed, had unique chains of com- around its operational programs to one organized around mand and different program managers at Coast Guard core operational service delivery processes. It focuses the Headquarters, lacked a consistent voice to the public, and coordinated efforts of all assigned operational capabilities had some mission overlap. to accomplish Coast Guard mission objectives. It recog- The attacks of September 11 called for a new Coast nizes that, in a broad sense, all Coast Guard operational Guard unity of effort that was cumbersome to achieve activities focus on prevention of an incident or illegal event, using the previous multiple command port-level structure. or on response to an emergency where prompt action mit- The Coast Guard’s move from the Department of igates loss of life or property, or adverse environmental Transportation to the Department of Homeland Security impact. The command and control processes the Coast and implementation of the Maritime Transportation Guard uses to execute those two operational business Security Act provided further impetus to restructure. areas are interrelated, but so sufficiently distinct that they Sector Commander CMC Safety Officer Senior Reserve Officer Auxiliary Coordinator Deputy Sector Commander Contingency Planning & Force Readiness Sector Command Center Intel Logistics Response Prevention Admin/Pers Incident Mgmt Inspection Finance/Sup Enforcement Waterways Mgt Engineering Investigation Opposite: Petty Officer 3rd Class Dustin Ridgeway patrols near the Leonard P. Zakim bridge in Boston. The new Sector Command organization integrates shore commands to improve unity of effort, responsiveness and mission flexibility. Above: Figure 1. Sector Organizational Construct. Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard Coast Courtesy of U.S. 25 Sector Commands Coast Guard Petty Officer Brett Patterson, crewmember of Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON), Jacksosonville, Fla., mans an M 240 machine gun on board an MH-68A Stingray helicopter during a homeland security patrol around New York City. Activities Commands in New York and Baltimore performed particularly well in the wake of September 11. can be managed as two separate but complementary intelligence regarding unlicensed operators carrying pas- processes, called Prevention and Response. sengers may result in a combined safety (Prevention) and The first focuses largely on gaining private sector com- law enforcement (Response) boarding that may identify pliance with regulatory standards and the design and safety and documentation deficiencies as well as fisheries maintenance of waterway systems to prevent incidents. or other law enforcement violations. The second concentrates on command and control activ- The Prevention Department consists of three divisions. ities associated with incident response and/or security Inspections Division manages and oversees the regulatory enforcement. These processes are actualized by two gen- and inspection aspects of the Coast Guard’s safety, securi- eral operational skill sets. In his May 2004 Decision ty, and environmental protection responsibilities for ves- Memo, the Commandant determined that “Prevention sels and facilities. Waterways Management Division con- requires expertise in the technical understanding and trols aids to navigation; safety and security zones; practical conduct of verification inspections of vessels, Regulated Navigation Areas; ice breaking; and VTS and waterway safety and security standards, and waterway AIS. Investigations Division initiates inquiries into marine analyses. Response requires proficiency in high tempo casualties, pollution, boating violations, and assessment of command, control and communications processes and civil penalties. the exercise of response and security enforcement The Response Department addresses SAR, pollution, expertise to accomplish incident command and crisis and all hazards via its Incident Management Division. management.” Enforcement Division enforces all laws and treaties and The Commandant envisions the relationship between carries out PWCS enforcement activities, such as armed Prevention and Response as one of collaborative interde- boardings, vessel escorts and security zone enforcement. pendence to accomplish all objectives. In some circum- This division works closely with federal, state, and local stances, one department will be supported and the other law enforcement and sister agencies within the DHS to supporting. Boats, people, and equipment are assigned to respond to and mitigate the impact of maritime threats. one of these two departments based on where they con- One of the four essential features the Commandant duct the majority of their work, with the understanding required for Sectors was unit level maintenance and organ- they may support the other department in certain situa- ic engineering, personnel, medical support, and tions. The result is a unity of effort across all departments finance/supply functions. The Logistics Department per- and new focus on multi-mission operations. For example, forms those functions for the entire Sector. USCG photo PA2 Mike Hvozda Mike PA2 USCG photo 27 Sector Commands Figure 2. Coast Guard Sectors as of June 9, 2005 Engineering/Support Division administers electronics and As of June 2005, 31 of the anticipated 35 total Sectors have computer system, naval, aviation, vehicle, and facilities already been approved. Full implementation of Sector engineering; armory and small arms qualification; and envi- Commands will be completed in 2006, although facility ronmental compliance. The associated Integrated Support construction needs may take longer. Command or Aircraft Repair and Supply Center handle The Sector Commander (SC) reports to the District intermediate and depot level maintenance. Medical, train- Commander for accomplishment of all Coast Guard mission ing, housing, and educational services reside in the objectives and serves as the single point of contact for mar- Administrative/Personnel Division. Finance/Supply itime stakeholders within the Sector. In support of the Division encompasses galley, transportation, and property Commandant’s concept of providing “one team for one and inventory management. Logistics Department Heads fight,” the SC will partner with other DHS agencies in pursuit can aspire to command a Sector as a Captain (O-6). of departmental goals and objectives. The SC serves as the Command and control will be centralized to serve all Captain of the Port (COTP) and Federal Maritime Security three components and field units. Those Groups that are Coordinator (FMSC). Unless otherwise assigned, the SC is far removed from the Sector homeport will be designated also the Officer in Charge Marine Inspections (OCMI), SAR as Sector Field Offices and will support outlying field units Mission Coordinator (SMC), and Federal On-Scene Guard Coast