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This article covers the organization of the United States Coast Guard.

Contents 1 Officers 1.1 Flag officers 1.1.1 Admiral 1.1.2 Vice Admiral 1.1.3 Rear Admiral 1.1.4 Commodore 1.2 Senior officers 1.2.1 Captain 1.2.2 Commander 1.3 Junior officers 1.4 Chief Warrant Officers 1.5 Chief Petty Officers 2 Command Structure 2.1 Commandant 2.2 Headquarters 2.3 Regional responsibilities 2.3.1 Atlantic Area 2.3.2 Pacific Area 3 Units 3.1 Mission Execution Unit types 3.1.1 Cutters 3.1.2 Air Stations 3.1.3 Sectors 3.1.3.1 Groups 3.1.3.2 Marine Safety Units 3.1.3.3 Stations 3.1.3.4 Aids to Navigation Teams 3.2 Mission Support Unit types 4 References 5 External links 6 See also

[edit] Officers

[edit] Flag officers

[edit] Admiral

The Commandant of the Coast Guard is the Coast Guard's senior officer, who, by law, holds the rank of Admiral. The current incumbent is Admiral Thad Allen, who assumed command on May 25, 2006.

[edit] Vice Admiral

There are four officers with the rank of Vice Admiral in the Coast Guard:

• Vice Commandant
• Coast Guard Chief of Staff
• Commander, Atlantic Area
• Commander, Pacific Area

[edit] Rear Admiral

The Superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy is Rear Admiral (Upper Half) (RADM) J. Scott Burhoe. The Director of Reserve and Training is RADM Cynthia Coogan since October 2006.^[1] In addition, each District is commanded by a Rear Admiral. Rear Admiral William D. Baumgartner serves as the Judge Advocate General.

Rear Adm. John P. Currier, became commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District at Seattle on July 23, 2007. He previously was in charge of the Coast Guard's acquisition directorate. ^[2]

Rear Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara commands of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District.

[edit] Commodore

The rank of Commodore is no longer used in the regular Coast Guard. The equivalent rank is Rear Admiral (Lower Half) (RDML). The chief elected officers of the Coast Guard Auxiliary are called Commodores (COMO). This is not a military rank, however.

The title of Commodore is occasionally granted to senior officers (typically of pay grade 0-6, which is a Captain) who are placed in command of a group or squadron of cutters. It is not a flag rank, but rather a title used to signify command of multiple units afloat.

[edit] Senior officers

[edit] Captain

Coast Guard officers with the rank of Captain (CAPT), like their Navy counterparts, rank immediately below Rear Admiral (Lower Half). Coast Guard Captains command most large operational units -- sectors, large cutters, large air stations, integrated support commands, training centers and large headquarters units. Captains also direct most headquarters, area and district staff elements. Most captains have served in the Coast Guard for 21 to 30 years.

By maritime tradition, the commanding officer of a ship is also called "captain," regardless of actual rank held. Thus, a young junior officer commanding a patrol boat is properly called "captain" even if his or her actual rank is Lieutenant, or Lieutenant (Junior Grade). This tradition has also carried over to many shore units. Occasionally, terms like "old man" and "skipper" are also used, though not usually in the presence of the "captain." However, in current usage, the person in charge of a Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary boat is the "coxswain" (pronounced cok-sun).

[edit] Commander

Officers with the rank Commander (CDR) may head departments in large operational units or staff positions, or they may be the Commanding Officer of a medium-sized unit. The term Commander is also associated with specific commanding officer positions, such as Sector Commander (usually a Captain) or District Commander (usually a Rear Admiral).

[edit] Junior officers

The other commissioned officer ranks are (from most senior to least senior)

• Lieutenant Commander (LCDR)
• Lieutenant (LT)
• Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG)
• Ensign (ENS)

[edit] Chief Warrant Officers

The Coast Guard has three ranks of Chief Warrant Officers. Chief Warrant Officers are commissioned officers and are promoted from senior enlisted ranks. The ranks of Warrant Officer (WO1) and Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CWO5) are not used in the Coast Guard. The three ranks in use are (from most senior to least senior):

• Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4)
• Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3)
• Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2)

An example of a position held by a Chief Warrant Officer is commanding officer of a small cutter, such as the USCGC Abbie Burgess. ^[3]

A Chief Warrant Officer is not addressed as "Chief"; that title that is normally reserved for the enlisted rank of Chief Petty Officer (E-7). The proper way to address a Chief Warrant Officer is to refer to their title (CWO, CWO3) or to address them as "Mr." or "Ms."

[edit] Chief Petty Officers

The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG) is the senior enlisted person of the Coast Guard and serves as an advisor to the Commandant. Like the Commandant, the MCPOCG serves a four-year term. The current MCPOCG is Charles (Skip) W. Bowen, who assumed this position on June 14th, 2006. The Master Chief of the Coast Guard Reserve is MCPO Jeff Smith.

Chief Petty Officers, often called "the Chief", are one of the leadership backbones of the Coast Guard. Chiefs are well versed in most areas of service, and the old adage of "go ask the Chief" holds true today. Chiefs are Officers-in-Charge of Motor Lifeboat Stations, act as Executive Petty Officers on Patrol Boats, and keep larger Coast Guard cutters on a true head bearing as Deck Watch Officers.

[edit] Command Structure

[edit] Commandant

The Commandant of the Coast Guard is the Coast Guard's senior officer, who, by law, holds the rank of Admiral. The Commandant is selected for a 4-year term, which may be renewed for additional 4-year periods. The current incumbent is Admiral Thad Allen, who assumed command on May 25, 2006.

The Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard is Vice Admiral Vivien S. Crea.

[edit] Headquarters

The headquarters of the Coast Guard is on 2100 Second Street, SW, in Washington, DC. In 2005, the Coast Guard announced tentative plans to relocate to the grounds of the former St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington. That project is currently on hold due to environmental, historical, and congressional concerns. As of July 2006, there are several possible locations being considered, including the current headquarters location.

The Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard is Vice Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., who serves as Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Headquarters. VADM Papp previously served as Commanding Officer of the Tall Ship USCGC EAGLE.

Headquarters is organized into directorates, as shown in the organizational chart above.

Some support and training units fall under the direct authority of Coast Guard Headquarters. Examples include:

• United States Coast Guard Academy (CGA), New London, Connecticuit. The Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy is Rear Admiral J. Scott Burhoe.
• Marine Safety Center (MSC), Washington DC
• National Maritime Center (NMC), Arlington, Virginia
• National Pollution Funds Center (NPFC), Arlington, Virginia
• National Response Center (Coast Guard-staffed)
• National Strike Force
• Navigation Center (NAVCEN), Alexandria, Virginia
• National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC), Falling Waters, West Virginia
• Personnel Command (CGPC), Arlington, Virginia
• Personnel Service Center (PSC), Topeka, Kansas
• Training Centers in Yorktown, VA, Cape May, NJ, and Petaluma, CA.
• Coast Guard Yard, Baltimore, Maryland

[edit] Regional responsibilities

The Coast Guard is divided into two Areas, the Atlantic and the Pacific, each of which is commanded by a vice admiral, with each being designated Maritime Homeland Defense Areas.

Within Areas, units are organized into Districts, commanded by a District Commander, a one or two-star rear admiral, with each responsible for a portion of the nation's coastline.

[edit] Atlantic Area

The Atlantic Area (LANTAREA) covers the Eastern United States, the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. It's office is located in Portsmouth, Virginia. This Area is commanded by Vice Admiral Brian Peterman, Commander, Atlantic Area / Commander, Defense Force East.

There are five Districts that fall under the Atlantic Area:

Emblem	District	Area	District Office	District Commander
	First District	Atlantic	Boston, Massachusetts
	New England states, eastern New York, and northern New Jersey
	Fifth District	Atlantic	Portsmouth, Virginia
	Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina
	Seventh District	Atlantic	Miami, Florida
	South Carolina, Georgia, eastern Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
	Eighth District	Atlantic	New Orleans, Louisiana
	Inland waters of the U.S. & the Gulf of Mexico
	Ninth District	Atlantic	Cleveland, Ohio
	The Great Lakes

[edit] Pacific Area

The Pacific Area (PACAREA) covers the Western United States and the Pacific Ocean. The area is commanded by Vice Admiral Charles D. Wurster, Commander, Pacific Area / Commander, Defense Force West United States Coast Guard. [1]. The area command is located at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California.

There are four Districts that fall within the Pacific Area:

Emblem	District	Area	District Office	District Commander
	Eleventh District	Pacific	Alameda, California
	California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah
	Thirteenth District	Pacific	Seattle, Washington
	Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana
	Fourteenth District	Pacific	Honolulu, Hawaii
	Hawaii and Pacific territories
	Seventeenth District	Pacific	Juneau, Alaska
	Alaska

[edit] Units

[edit] Mission Execution Unit types

[edit] Cutters

Main article: United States Coast Guard Cutter

Cutters are Coast Guard vessels ranging from 65 to 420 feet in length and are responsible for the offshore execution of Coast Guard missions. The commanding officer of a cutter reports to either a District Commander or Area Commander.

[edit] Air Stations

Main article: United States Coast Guard Air Stations

Coast Guard Air Stations provide aviation support for other Coast Guard activities. The commanding officer of a USCG Air Station reports to the appropriate District Commander.

[edit] Sectors

Main article: United States Coast Guard Sectors

Within each District, large operational shore-side units known as Sectors are responsible for mission execution within their area of responsibility. Sectors were formed with the merger of Groups and Marine Safety Offices. Coast Guard small boat stations are called Stations and report to Sectors. Each Sector Commander reports to the appropriate District Commander.

[edit] Groups

Most Groups have merged with Marine Safety Offices to form Sectors. Where merger is impractical at this time, they exist to manage operations in the search & rescue and law enforcement mission areas. When present, Groups oversee the activities of Stations and Aids to Navigation Teams in their geographic area.

[edit] Marine Safety Units

Most marine safety field units have merged with Groups to form Sectors. Where merger is impractical, they exist to execute missions such vessel inspection, pollution prevention/investigation, waterways management, and marine investigation.

[edit] Stations

A Stations (STA) is a shore-based unit that utilizes small boats to conduct near-coastal search & rescue and law enforcement.

[edit] Aids to Navigation Teams

An Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) is a shore-based unit responsible for maintaining smaller navigational aids on land and on the water.

[edit] Mission Support Unit types

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• USCG Headquarters Organization

[edit] See also