0:10

Welcome. To the War on the

0:12

Rocks podcast covering strategy, Defense in

0:14

Foreign Affairs. My name is Nicholas

0:16

Danforth editor in host of Today

0:19

Show. This morning

0:21

we're delighted to be sitting down with the

0:23

Commandant of the Coastguard Admiral into Fagan. the

0:25

thank you for coming on the War on

0:27

the Rocks podcast Thank. You thanks for allowing me

0:29

to tell a little bit of the Coast Guard story. In

0:32

the state of the coastguard, Which. You

0:34

just gave recently. you mention that your

0:36

top acquisition priority was the Polar Security

0:38

cutter. I. Saw in your bio

0:40

that you previously served on an ice breaker. You

0:43

just got back from a trip to Scandinavia.

0:45

So. Let's let's start in the Arctic. I

0:48

always liked to start with the

0:50

fact that we are an arctic

0:52

nation. so this isn't us declaring

0:55

ourselves as a near our nation

0:57

as China did a few years

0:59

ago. we and our national security

1:01

or or commingled with with our

1:03

Arctic interest. So I was on

1:05

an icebreaker as a young ensign

1:07

many years ago and the Polar

1:10

star at that point was one

1:12

of too heavy ice breakers at

1:14

the nation was operating. Polar Star

1:16

is currently are only heavy icebreaker.

1:18

In in operation and each

1:20

year she actually sales south

1:22

to Antarctica and we've national

1:24

security interest. At the South Pole as

1:26

well. But she she breaks

1:28

the ice channel to allow

1:31

resupply in in the Arctic.

1:33

Healy, which is a medium

1:35

icebreaker, has each summer goes

1:38

up. There does did science

1:40

operations ice breaking in in.

1:42

it's an international mission that

1:44

they do. They most recently

1:47

circumnavigate it through the Northwest

1:49

Passage. They were operating above

1:51

sixty five degrees off of

1:53

our Russia. inconsistent with international

1:56

on international order. And so

1:58

you know that one press

2:00

and being actually presence. In the

2:02

Arctic matter and then creating opportunity to work

2:04

with our allies and partners. And I was

2:06

just in Norway at the Arctic Coast Guard

2:08

Forum for year or and about. that were

2:10

the Arctic. Nations come together or

2:13

to talk about areas. Of

2:15

have shared interest in alignment in

2:17

there are other lot opportunity in

2:19

the Arctic as Norwegians are talking

2:21

about bringing one of their tall

2:23

ships sailing vessels through the northwest.

2:25

Passage in the Summer of Twenty Five

2:28

And we thought, collectively. About a

2:30

exchanging officers finding opportunities and or

2:32

operate with each other. Again

2:34

the in a rules based order

2:37

agreed international law presence free and

2:39

open the kinds of of. Principles

2:41

that apply in the Pacific to apply

2:44

in the Arctic as well. And so

2:46

we're We're excited for the opportunity to

2:48

field or security gutter on behalf. Of

2:50

the nation Bolland your Mississippi is the

2:52

yard that is contracted to build that

2:54

shifts we have not felt the. Security.

2:57

Clearance ice breaker in the country since

2:59

the mid seventies. It's gonna be a

3:01

complicated ship to. Bill but i'm on

3:03

upset confident in the design and and what

3:06

we will be delivered but we'd we'd stops

3:08

we still that some time before it actually

3:10

starts to take form or and just not

3:12

to get off on outside track here but

3:15

mentioning the design of our was of. Ice

3:17

Different now than it was in the seventies.

3:19

What is this additional ship been unable to

3:22

do in the Arctic? So. As

3:24

a polar security cutter will allow

3:26

us to create more persistent presence

3:28

program. A record of three heavy

3:30

polar security cutters. Or in

3:33

some aspects not a lot changes

3:35

fray. it is a just sheer

3:37

brute force game. See any big

3:39

heavy ships a to break eyes

3:41

are. Having said that whole forms

3:43

have continued. To evolve as nations

3:45

a d build icebreakers as learned about

3:48

how to make a more more efficient

3:50

have formed propulsion. Systems and system

3:52

design have changed. The polar.

3:54

Star has three shafts all you

3:57

know, diesel electric that controllable pets

3:59

propellers. The new power security cutter

4:01

will have a centerline chef like that

4:03

but them will use as a pod

4:05

technology so it's very similar a propulsion

4:08

systems to what cruise ships use thinks

4:10

outboard engine much much bigger than this.

4:12

These are both like true story high

4:14

of proposing units but they are you

4:16

can turn them to literally you can

4:18

make the ship go sideways without with

4:21

that kind of and maneuverability. Anything

4:23

else in the Arctic before his shift to the Pacific?

4:25

I don't want to Us: Yeah, I know I have

4:27

to get own. Again, in the in

4:30

the Arctic our national sovereignty

4:32

is. Involved and engage in the

4:34

Arctic We have a two hundred mile

4:36

exclusive economic zone or your we got

4:39

our contralateral shelf and and creating a

4:41

presence is a is important you know

4:43

I mentioned China and declared themselves as

4:45

a near near are excited about it

4:47

is important. Remember Russia also is an

4:50

Arctic a nation and wish erm. Maritime

4:52

boundary line with Russia certainly in

4:54

the yard in the bearing and

4:56

well. they operate icebreakers and have

4:58

their own national interest in their

5:01

part of the Arctic. A we

5:03

do. We as a coastguard have

5:05

normalized behavior with our Russian counterpart

5:07

as it pertains to our maritime

5:10

boundary lines. lot of it has

5:12

to do with fishing and fisheries.

5:14

I enforcement been. Normalized.

5:17

Patterns of Behavior important because they they

5:19

minimize the risk a miscalculation. The so

5:21

casually are awesome for from an old

5:23

trend over on our side line we've

5:25

got in a we call him and

5:27

they they bring a back and occasionally

5:29

ours will. Will will do do the

5:31

same place. Fishing and fish stocks will

5:33

be as a nuke and a driver

5:36

have changed patterns in the Arctic. The

5:38

fish follow the water temperature of the

5:40

water temperatures are warming, the fish are

5:42

migrating further north. If any of your

5:44

listeners watch the deadliest catch rate. This

5:46

is the this is the crowd that's up

5:48

there going after some of the the fish

5:50

and the crabs thoughts and you see that

5:52

they're operating further north. Just demonstrated how patterns

5:55

from beginning to change in the Arctic. In

5:57

the Indo Pacific them one of the

5:59

things I was surprised about when I

6:01

started reading articles about this and we're

6:04

the rocks. Some of readers runaway more

6:06

about this, some of them don't was

6:08

just how active the Coast Guard was

6:10

in the Indo Pacific, how big both

6:12

it's practical role was and it's diplomatic

6:15

role. Was. He also been

6:17

to the Pacific recently as I understand

6:19

tell us about with the coast guard

6:21

is doing their recently had somebody who

6:23

have observed mean this is very traits

6:25

of first were pacific nation which is

6:27

by refinements pacific and and we have

6:29

you know a number of allies and

6:32

partners in the reason that that engagement

6:34

is is critical but the observation was

6:36

the coastguard. Forward. Deployed

6:38

in world War Two. And.

6:40

They regards. We've never fully

6:42

return home. We continue to

6:45

operate across though the world's

6:47

oceans. And in a

6:49

way that's. Holsters

6:51

another nation's sovereignty and

6:53

capability and capacity. Or

6:55

we bring good governance

6:57

rule of law. A

7:00

Professional Maritime Normalized Professional

7:02

Maritime. Of behaviors and so

7:04

is in many of the island

7:06

nations in the Pacific or they

7:08

may not. Welcome a Us Navy visit

7:10

but they are eager and hungry for

7:13

a Us Coast Guard visits in it's.

7:15

Because. We've won were really

7:17

good at meeting the nation where

7:19

they are so they need assistance

7:21

learning how. To do a port engine

7:23

repair, we can do that form. If

7:26

they need assistance in conducting law.

7:28

Enforcement boardings again and area of expertise that

7:30

we can bring bring to them. The.

7:32

Demand. For for coast guard operational,

7:35

it's a. Basically. Anywhere I traveled

7:37

the world everybody's like we want you we

7:39

need more of yeah can you can. His

7:41

son is a ship. So. Most

7:43

recently, the Coast Guard cutter. Harriet Lane which

7:45

is a two hundred and seventy foot

7:47

cutter that was up until December of

7:49

last year homeport it on the East

7:51

coast United States. her home for it

7:53

was saying so, Honolulu, Hawaii in see

7:56

if we we've got budget support for

7:58

this and she is now operating. As

8:00

a Pacific support tender, it's a model that

8:02

we used in the Caribbean a number of

8:04

years ago. Says is an operating concept of

8:06

coast guard has done, we know it works,

8:09

is proven and Harriet Lane is just finished

8:11

her first deployment through the through the South

8:13

Pacific. And were that

8:15

particular of value? Proposition was is

8:17

in in leveraging or the bilateral

8:19

agreements that we've got With that

8:22

twelve of I'm in the region,

8:24

specifically in Vanuatu and Fiji's the

8:26

bilateral agreements for levers. So what

8:28

this means is Harriet Lane and

8:30

I I was in Vanuatu inherently

8:32

was there Harriet Lane import in

8:34

Vanuatu. And she embarks

8:37

for Vanuatu. Of

8:39

Fisheries Enforcement Officials. And

8:41

then we take them out in the

8:43

van. Watches easy so. Vanuatu members

8:45

in Van watches Exclusive Economic Zone

8:48

their sovereignty in their waters where

8:50

they boarded a several Chinese of

8:52

fishing vessels and there are a

8:54

couple of violations none of them

8:56

significant but either been almost five

8:58

years since then want to had

9:00

been able to create that kind

9:02

of Us presidents and enforcement and

9:04

engagement in their own our own

9:07

sovereign waters and that at and

9:09

again this is the value propositions.

9:11

We don't tell them what do

9:13

you how to enforcer on sovereignty.

9:15

But we create the opportunity for them to do

9:17

that. In and truly practical terms,

9:19

tell me a little bit what those missions

9:21

localized. Yeah. So you know

9:24

the Fisheries Mission is it's

9:26

really about. Presence. Engagements

9:28

finding a vassals that are

9:31

fishing and then. Verify whether they're

9:33

fishing or in accordance with the

9:35

on this case of state law

9:37

national law Vanuatu but then there

9:39

are also a number of international

9:42

agreements you know where to find

9:44

of fishing vessel on the high

9:46

seas of the High Seas Driftnet

9:48

of fishing agreements and there's number

9:50

of regional fisheries management organizations that

9:53

that kind of overlays are the

9:55

reason or with the purpose of

9:57

ensuring that fishing from pick a

9:59

species. Stone in a way that

10:01

sustainable and does not create or

10:03

the collapse or the diminishment of

10:05

fish stock and it is a

10:07

real problem. Illegal fishing or is

10:09

a what you i'm focused. On

10:12

the Pacific. Rent. It's a worldwide

10:14

problem. Illegal fishing. So illegal, unreported,

10:16

unregulated fishing or you you asks,

10:18

literally goes on around the world.

10:21

We experiences in the Gulf of

10:23

Mexico with Mexican fishermen fishing across

10:25

our boundary line for red snapper

10:27

and contravention of our own a

10:30

national law. So even. The Us

10:32

is not immune from these kinds of,

10:34

you know, basically illegal. Activity and beyond

10:36

illegal fishing the other missions that you

10:39

her support yet so you know a

10:41

lot of what we do in the

10:43

reason than his arm and you know

10:46

his partner with. Partner. T

10:48

Leader engagements, subject matter, expertise

10:51

in are operating. We've recently

10:53

of We're we're sailing and

10:55

operating long sides tilting postcards

10:57

to Pan Coastguard three Coast

11:00

Guard so whether it's working.

11:02

with an island nation or fellow coast

11:04

guard or. Navy and the reason those are

11:06

any and all of the engagement opportunities that

11:09

we look for. In the other thing I

11:11

should highlight of talking about big ships. But

11:13

we've got of mobile trinity's of

11:15

people, small units to three fourths,

11:17

members of the coastguard. You may

11:19

have expertise and. Again, I talk of small. And

11:21

repair. Pick an area that a country may need

11:23

help with and will send them into the country.

11:26

Provide a training for a week,

11:28

two weeks, whatever whatever may be

11:30

helpful to that country to create

11:33

capacity, strike capability and expand their

11:35

own abilities and forth or on

11:37

sovereignty. One of the

11:40

things that articles we've had on the

11:42

subject always mention is the the person

11:44

relationships the diplomatic relationships that grow out

11:46

of this kind of engagement. Saw a

11:49

i was in Malaysia of us a

11:51

few years ago. He adds are there

11:53

was a two star admiral are there

11:55

who had graduated from the United States

11:58

Coast Guard accounting about twenty years. Twenty

12:00

five years previously and they had

12:02

just graduated another a young. Ensign

12:04

In so this threats. Of

12:07

experience and it just it speaks

12:09

to or the value of having

12:11

those operations. In the in interactions

12:14

and exchanges. We. Were on a

12:16

course in your town called the International Maritime

12:18

Officers Courses and running it for twenty plus

12:20

years. I was at a As Security forum

12:23

in a couple their Day that the Navy

12:25

hosted last year. There were twenty five graduates

12:27

of the course for everybody from the most

12:29

recent graduate to twenty plus years. In

12:32

it speaks to the just

12:34

person by person, commitment and

12:36

enduring. Value of those kinds

12:38

of opportunities. A We learn from

12:40

our international partners and they in turn

12:43

learn from Os And so then when

12:45

you have a ship in the region

12:47

or and a share others those relationships

12:49

are already. Of the foundations of been

12:51

laid they've been built in are lousy

12:53

to just a builds on some great

12:55

a great aligned view on in what

12:58

it means to be a professional maritime

13:00

navy or or coast guard. In.

13:02

Will I not even talking lot about

13:04

the rule based order about enforcing maritime?

13:06

Lot. What's your perspective on them?

13:09

Close: The Un Convention on The Love

13:11

The See. Nine. So Hero

13:13

in the United States is certainly the

13:15

Us Coast Guard out. We operate at

13:17

all times consistent with the law. The

13:20

see yet the Us has not a

13:22

seated to that international conventions and because

13:24

we're not a member of the conventions

13:27

as things like extended Outer Continental Shelf

13:29

claims are made and filed, a we

13:31

don't have a seat at at that

13:34

table is of particular interest with regard

13:36

to the A U S and and

13:38

Russia in A in the Arctic. And

13:41

again we. Have we operate consistent with

13:43

all of that law? But but not.

13:45

Being a member and not having

13:47

a seat as a table as

13:49

others operating ways that a road.

13:51

Said. Agreed international order in of good

13:54

on all of. That good governance A lazy

13:56

nice they said it added this is disadvantaged

13:58

in a were a flag. The a

14:00

port state, a coastal states the

14:02

law the see conventions outlines would

14:05

all your authorities responsibilities. Are and

14:07

those three buckets. And the Us Coast Guard.

14:09

Operates. In in all three

14:11

of those world and the majority way for the

14:14

for the United States. I

14:17

just wanna take a brief break from

14:19

our conversation to a month listeners than

14:21

if they're interested in more analysis of

14:23

Russia. If you're interested in more analysis

14:25

of the war in Ukraine, consider subscribing

14:28

to our membership program were among many

14:30

other things. You'll get my Kaufman's Russia

14:32

Contingency. People

14:34

bring up cause analogy, the wrong Iraq

14:36

war or prolonged wars of a true

14:38

friend, the drag on for a long

14:40

period of time and and the rear

14:42

And then the reality is that the

14:44

both sides are in practice losers of

14:47

the war because of how far it's

14:49

have some bad generationally and in terms

14:51

of the country's development. so I certainly

14:53

hope it's it's not going to be

14:55

that kind of war. I for one

14:57

think that even though the war may

14:59

continue on formerly I think it'll and

15:01

sooner than that worries me the most

15:03

is that are there's a good chance

15:05

that how this war ends simply insurers

15:08

are know they're unhappy in on sustainable.

15:10

Peace where nobody speaks to the

15:12

deal or there aren't the right

15:14

security commitments of the right things

15:16

down the ground to the help

15:18

bolster usher Ukraine security and we

15:20

end up getting a third war.

15:24

And without back to a conversation with

15:26

the commandant. And

15:28

you touched on this a little bit in relation

15:30

to Russia, but I also wanted to ask. Does.

15:33

The threat from Russia. Does the threat

15:35

from China look any different from a

15:37

coastguard perspective? It so as

15:40

we operate as a coastguard anywhere in the

15:42

world. In this very true in the Pacific

15:44

we operate. Consistent with the international

15:46

law of the see Good if you

15:48

know. We abide by or

15:50

the code for owning and.

15:52

Expected encounters. It's see all of

15:54

the things. That. Means to be a

15:57

professional military maritime force. Or we do

15:59

It Is. Everyday and in

16:01

every interaction. Ah, what those

16:04

norms, rules of behavior? Are

16:06

become a little little gray or

16:08

when you look at a China

16:10

China Coast Guard in their militia

16:12

in particular new see their their

16:14

activities focused on the Philippines and

16:16

the in the resupply. So off

16:18

our approach to this is where

16:20

did we will. We're going to

16:22

operate navigate anywhere that allowed by

16:24

international law that we will will

16:26

do it and away again This

16:28

consistence a with with international law

16:30

and says certainly were watching China

16:32

closely with regard to how they

16:34

are conducting themselves. As we

16:37

operate ships in the region, when we

16:39

send a large National Security cutter into

16:41

the Western Pacific, it's all done under

16:43

the under the fold of Indo Indo

16:46

Pay Com or their operational control. So

16:48

we're not in. We aren't there a

16:50

coastguard operating independently where where well aligned

16:52

with our our dear D counterparts, International

16:54

security cutters. Very frigate like it's got

16:57

navy type navy on says and very

16:59

very capable a ship. And then you

17:01

know with regard to Russia and their

17:03

operation right we we have. Again

17:06

as I would describe com a normalized

17:08

pattern of behavior of with the Russians

17:10

were mostly watch them closely they watch

17:12

as closely. And is world's

17:14

The world continues to evolve and

17:16

change. The. System you know part of

17:19

what what we need to continue to

17:21

look out as we ensure that you

17:23

we've got to operate risk profile in

17:25

the right right place in hell going

17:27

forward. If relations with China worsened, If

17:29

the you know and a nightmare scenario

17:31

over Taiwan scenario, what's his, what's his.

17:33

The coast guards will look like there

17:36

is so you know that the coastguard

17:38

is written into a number of fact

17:40

all of the every one of the

17:42

co coms. A has

17:45

some postcard assets.

17:47

are you know allocated apportioned into their

17:49

com plans and oh plans are so

17:52

it becomes scenario a dependent but the

17:54

coast is reflected in all as and

17:56

we will we would work to a

17:58

line or in support of

18:01

whoever the lead CoCom

18:03

was or is. In

18:06

a conflict or in a situation

18:08

where the United States needs to move

18:11

a lot of military equipment, we have

18:13

a key role in the military out

18:15

load ports in ensuring the safety and

18:17

the security in the harbors and in

18:19

the inland waterways of the U.S. and

18:21

so that would be an immediate demand

18:24

for some of our, I'll call them

18:26

riverine, but our small boat in the

18:29

harbor community beyond just the big ship

18:31

support and people's support to the combat

18:33

and commanders. And

18:35

that leads into my next question for you,

18:38

which is that in February that president

18:40

signed an executive order empowering the Coast

18:42

Guard to focus on digital threats as

18:44

they relate to the security of our nation's

18:46

ports. Not everybody, I

18:49

think fully recognizes or

18:51

understands our role in

18:53

the marine transportation system, you know,

18:56

it's $5.4 trillion of economic commerce

18:58

and benefit that flows in

19:00

and out of our ports and our inland waterways

19:02

and the Coast Guard's got a key and

19:05

pivotal role in that

19:07

we, you know, we inspect foreign ships for

19:09

compliance with international and U.S. standards.

19:12

We work with regulated facilities to ensure

19:15

that they've got appropriate safety and security

19:17

measures in place. We

19:19

license U.S. mariners. We do

19:21

accident investigations. We mark the

19:24

channels and approaches to our harbors with

19:26

aids to navigation and

19:28

have had authority for sort

19:30

of response mitigation in the result

19:32

of a disaster or a event

19:35

impacting the marine transportation system. The

19:38

executive order in February

19:40

clarifies that that

19:42

response authority also

19:45

includes responses following a cyber attack

19:47

or a cyber incident. So authority

19:49

the Coast Guard already had, but

19:51

clarification that in fact, you know,

19:53

if it were a cyber triggering

19:55

event, it extends beyond

19:58

that. And so we have a established

20:00

a cyber specialty rating as an

20:02

organization, investing in that expertise, both

20:05

for our own systems and for the

20:07

industry that we work alongside. We've

20:09

been hiring civilians at the district

20:11

level who are experts in how

20:13

the marine transportation system functions, but

20:15

also as experts in cyber and

20:18

cyber risk management and cyber mitigation strategies.

20:20

And so these are all areas

20:23

where the Coast Guard is involved.

20:26

Obviously a lot of interest around cranes and

20:28

the crane technologies, 85-90% of the world's cranes

20:32

are built and come from China.

20:34

And so working with

20:36

ports and facilities to ensure

20:39

that there's not unacceptable

20:41

risk with regard to potential

20:44

chips or chip technology.

20:47

We also are working

20:49

a notice of proposed rulemaking,

20:52

so a federal rulemaking that

20:54

will establish cyber standards

20:57

for the industry. This

20:59

will be a substantial rulemaking,

21:01

lots of opportunity for comment. And if any

21:03

of your listeners are familiar with the rulemaking

21:06

process, it's never easy and it's

21:08

not quick, but we're engaged in

21:10

that around cyber and the marine transportation

21:12

system. When it comes to cybersecurity threats

21:15

to our ports, this is one of

21:17

those things that sounds, to me

21:20

at least, very bad

21:22

but very abstract. Can you talk us

21:24

through what the threat actually

21:26

looks like? You know a lot

21:28

of attention has been like say around

21:30

cranes and some of the crane technology. You

21:34

can broaden this to pick any of

21:37

the major infrastructure systems in the

21:39

country and anywhere

21:42

where you've got a device that

21:44

connects to the internet or allows

21:47

a reach-in, creates a

21:49

vulnerability. And so a lot

21:52

of attention again around the marine transportation

21:54

system, but that potential

21:57

exists Across a number of different elements

21:59

in certain countries. Yeah, I like to sap.

22:01

I have a car. Built by the Germans that

22:03

they liked his semi notes and sell me

22:05

my oil needs to be chase and it's

22:07

not that they're guessing that. My O L might

22:09

be famous of better inability to monitor. Motor

22:12

vehicle know same kinds of.

22:14

Or vulnerabilities opportunities as it

22:17

across as systems are so

22:19

you know. One. Of

22:21

the things that we work to

22:24

do is just good: Cyber hiding,

22:26

changing default passwords, understanding. Your

22:28

own system and were those for

22:30

Billy's may life go a long

22:33

ways to mitigating. The risk and

22:35

potential for an adversary to. To

22:37

Access Your system and Create! Ah

22:39

you know, create Sir May. Have

22:41

missed you Well your window dollies. A

22:43

large container ship hit the bridge in

22:46

Baltimore. That was the first question there

22:48

was. Was this a terrorist attacks? Was

22:50

there a cyber elements who isn't?

22:53

The Ntsb had lead on that

22:55

investigation. We we've been supporting him

22:57

and there's There's no evidence of

22:59

any of those. Are those those

23:02

situations? But it's not. It would not

23:04

be impossible. Will accept It takes a

23:06

lot that connect. The dots together, but it's.

23:08

Not to say that's not. You. Know

23:10

it it is possible and we

23:12

just need a all or remains

23:14

of vigilant to of buying down

23:16

cyber, his gun or own personal

23:18

lives in in and are critical

23:20

elements of infrastructure in the nation.

23:23

Also mentioned the road data, the

23:25

role of a I'm Analytics unmanned

23:27

systems. Talk us through some of

23:29

the other technologies that your bring to bear.

23:31

They're changing the way you do your work.

23:34

Yes only touch on a couple

23:36

the or unmanned systems that third

23:39

that were using and they've been

23:41

a particularly are helpful to is

23:43

so skinny or is a ship

23:46

launched ship retrieved on man system

23:48

capacity that we've got deployed on

23:50

all of our national security cutters.

23:53

It has been game changing particularly

23:55

and are counternarcotics efforts are gives

23:57

us a advantage. So when. You've

24:00

got to ship out there that you're looking

24:02

to put on a target. Another where is

24:04

whether to go fast or semi submersible. The

24:07

unmanned systems gotten much for late

24:09

late or capacity each we can.

24:11

Acquire the targets, keep the ship over

24:13

the rise in the to we're ready

24:15

to actually affects the the boarding and

24:17

and do the pursuits and us of

24:19

the ships that are in the western

24:21

pacific have skinny or we regularly operate

24:24

or that system there are closer. To

24:26

home. We've contracted with Sale Drones,

24:28

which is Daves. They're in a

24:31

really fascinating company, so this isn't

24:33

a float platform. True, it's completely

24:35

on man and they have sort

24:38

of cracked the code. On

24:40

Power How To power? Or.

24:42

That that particular conveyance in

24:44

the. Sensors on board and we've

24:46

got them on contract in you

24:48

know, in the floors. Rates basically

24:51

against the a regular A migration.

24:53

Challenges that we face as

24:55

a nation and you know

24:57

the still slow of people

25:00

attempting perilous illegal. Journeys at

25:02

Sea is significantly down from where it

25:04

was just you know, year and of

25:06

your plus ago and sale drone health

25:08

so that because it's it's. Visible. It's

25:10

presence or sensors pre they have. It's.

25:12

Kind of a funny situation about a

25:15

year ago station Cel Freighter. And

25:17

as they tried to tow the sale.

25:19

Drone off for of course we could see him

25:21

in the camera. was fairly easy to go out

25:23

and resolved, but. But it's it's a way

25:25

to create. A presence and censor

25:28

capacity that doesn't require people insist

25:30

helps create the common knowledge and

25:32

information. Or you need to create

25:34

a operational effect and impact. And at the end

25:36

of the day it's about putting seal. and target

25:38

doing the intersections ensuring that no

25:40

one loses their lives as they

25:42

they make those perilous are illegal

25:44

journey sports towards united states and

25:46

on my and technologies of key

25:48

part of that on man technology

25:51

being as important as it is

25:53

people obviously remain imported you've also

25:55

focused on workforce issues are immense

25:57

in the talent management transformation task

25:59

force i role in making it easier

26:01

for people to join and serve. Tell

26:03

us about the changes that are taking place in

26:05

that realm. The talent transformation is was one of

26:08

my key tenants when I came in two

26:10

years ago. And, you know, we

26:13

run a system just like the other

26:15

militaries. It's an up route system. The

26:17

system is optimized for an 18 year old,

26:20

either to come into the Academy, get a four year

26:22

degree and be commissioned, or to

26:24

enter bootcamp in Cape May and

26:26

begin from the begin to

26:28

build your skills from the very beginning,

26:31

from the bottom, if you will. That is not

26:33

the workforce that we're recruiting today. We've

26:35

got people in Cape May with bachelor's

26:38

degrees, master's degrees. We occasionally get a

26:40

PhD through there. So

26:43

one of the big changes in the system has

26:45

been to acknowledge the life skill

26:47

and experience people are bringing with them into

26:49

the service. If you

26:51

have an EMT credential, be a great

26:54

example, you're basically 75% to

26:56

a corpsman, to one of our medical professionals.

26:58

So the school that we put you through

27:00

out in Padeloum, California, we've begun customizing those

27:03

programs so that you learn how to operate

27:05

a clinic and what it means to be

27:07

a medical provider in the Coast Guard, but

27:09

we're not giving you basic medical expertise because

27:11

you already have it. So

27:14

we've people

27:16

are graduating, we've had about 150 people graduate 30% quicker across

27:19

a number of the schools by just acknowledging

27:22

the skills that they bring with us. Assumptions

27:25

around transferring,

27:27

staying in one place, laterally

27:29

into positions, promoting into

27:32

an advanced position, all

27:34

of that has been put on the table.

27:36

It's being actioned by the organization, super well

27:38

received by the workforce. The workforce,

27:40

once they find us, and we have had

27:42

some recruiting challenges, but once somebody finds the

27:44

Coast Guard, they know

27:47

why they're there. They want to stay. The

27:49

work sells, the value proposition and the return

27:52

on investment for the Coast Guard is second

27:54

to none. About a year ago, we were 3500

27:57

non-rates, junior people short, that's down

27:59

to about And we

28:01

did that by reinvesting in recruiting

28:03

capacity. We turned on junior ROTC

28:06

programs, exciting the youth, illuminating the

28:08

youth that the Coast Guard is

28:10

an incredible organization. And if you

28:12

have any tendency or

28:14

inclination to serve, the Coast Guard is the right

28:16

choice. Final question then. I'm glad you got a chance

28:18

to put in a plug for the Coast Guard. In

28:21

addition to the recruiting challenge, other challenges, other

28:24

things you're worried about, other things going forward

28:26

that you think are going to be crucial

28:28

for the Coast Guard to solve. We

28:30

got great bipartisan support. I was just at a

28:33

Coast Guard caucus breakfast this morning on the Hill.

28:36

And both sides of the aisle speaking positively and

28:38

strongly in support of the Coast Guard. We

28:41

don't have the procurement, construction, and

28:43

infrastructure budget that we need. We're

28:46

at a 10-year low. We

28:48

were funded at about $1.4 billion this past year. That's

28:52

significantly less what we need. I have half

28:54

of the maintenance account that I need to

28:57

maintain and do heavy maintenance on all

28:59

those new ships and old ships. And

29:02

ensuring that we've got the budget support to

29:04

do all of the great things that I've

29:07

talked about. And then the

29:09

one last thing where we've spent a lot

29:11

of time and it is around service culture

29:13

and ensuring that we've got a service culture

29:15

aligned with our core values of honor, respect,

29:17

and devotion to duty. And

29:20

that we're ensuring that everyone,

29:22

everywhere, always in the Coast

29:25

Guard has got the opportunity

29:27

to serve, be valued, heard,

29:29

and be safe. The

29:31

end of the day, it's all about people. All those

29:33

ships, all that stuff we do, it's

29:35

people, people, people. And I'm committed to

29:37

making this the best experience for those

29:39

that are in and those that choose

29:42

to join in the future. Thank

29:44

you for coming on the War on the Rocks podcast. Thank

29:47

you. Please don't forget to

29:50

check out our membership program

29:52

at www.warontherocks.com backslash membership. You'll

29:55

get Mike Kaufman Talking about the war

29:57

in Ukraine. You'll get Ankit Ponda Talking

29:59

about nuclear war. and much much else.