CommunityEditor
01-23-2009, 09:41 PM
One day after being sworn in as the third Homeland Security secretary, Janet Napolitano was briefed by Washington, D.C.-based Coast Guard flag officers about the service’s global presence as well as its involvement in anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, drug interdiction efforts, and the role the private sector plays in securing the nation’s border.
Napolitano resigned Tuesday from her post as governor of Arizona after federal confirmation of her new position. She was sworn in Wednesday and now oversees the newest and third-largest Cabinet-level department.
During his briefing to the secretary, Rear Adm. Brian Salerno, assistant commandant for marine safety, security and stewardship, said the Coast Guard has an ongoing role in anti-piracy efforts off the coast of Somalia, including a law-enforcement detachment that has been operating aboard the amphibious transport dock San Antonio, training sailors on law enforcement techniques. LEDET 405 has been working under the newly established Combined Task Force 151, set up specifically to fight pirates.
In addition, the cutter Boutwell recently embarked on a six-month, across-the-globe deployment with the Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group and is expected to be assigned to counter-piracy efforts as part of CTF 151 during that deployment, Salerno said.
“It’s not definite, but it is anticipated,” he said.
Napolitano also was briefed on the Coast Guard’s diplomatic role in the anti-piracy effort. Salerno said a group will depart next week for Djibouti, where they will meet with a regional working group trying to figure out exactly what to do with the pirates after they are captured.
“It’s one thing to catch them, it’s another thing to do something with them and deal with the consequences,” Salerno reported.
Another major threat and relatively new Coast Guard responsibility are self-propelled semi-submersible vessels being used to transport large amounts of drugs from Colombia to the U.S.
The vessels, which sit just on top of the water and are nearly impossible to detect, were recently outlawed in the U.S., giving the Coast Guard and other agencies the ability to prosecute the ship’s drivers and passengers even if all other evidence is dumped before captured.
The interagency counter-drug effort netted three SPSS interdictions in just eight days at the end of 2008 and the first few weeks of this year. Although the contraband was dumped before officials could collect the evidence, the three interdictions are the first being considered for prosecution. Commandant Adm. Thad Allen told Napolitano that the Justice Department is reviewing the cases to determine whether to prosecute. With the new law, smugglers could face up to 15 years in prison and a $1 million fine just for driving or riding in a semi-submersible.
Salerno also discussed the Coast Guard’s role in what has been dubbed the “miracle on the Hudson,” when an U.S. Airways pilot successfully landed an Airbus A320 in the Hudson River, saving all 155 passengers on board. New York City ferry boats were the first rescuers to arrive on scene, but Salerno said that response was coordinated through the Coast Guard.
The incident highlighted the service’s reliance on the private sector in rescue situations and border security. Salerno attributed the successful interagency communication to annual mass casualty drills that take place throughout the country.
“Those ferry operators participated in those mass casualty exercises that teach them how to communicate so they knew exactly who they needed to talk to during the incident,” he said.
Napolitano said she was struck by the department’s “huge mission” saying it would take several days just to be briefed by all the agencies. She said she visited the Coast Guard on her first official day in office because it is the largest “and one of the most important components” to the security of U.S. coasts.
She also echoed Obama’s desire to reach out to the Muslim community calling a priority but saying she had no clear policy at this time.
When asked whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency should remain under the department, Napolitano said “as long as it remains under the department it is an important part of the department,” but said she has not had time to discuss any organizational changes with the president. She said her biggest goal will be setting an “over-arching mission for the agency.”
Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2009/01/coastguard_napolitano_012209/
Napolitano resigned Tuesday from her post as governor of Arizona after federal confirmation of her new position. She was sworn in Wednesday and now oversees the newest and third-largest Cabinet-level department.
During his briefing to the secretary, Rear Adm. Brian Salerno, assistant commandant for marine safety, security and stewardship, said the Coast Guard has an ongoing role in anti-piracy efforts off the coast of Somalia, including a law-enforcement detachment that has been operating aboard the amphibious transport dock San Antonio, training sailors on law enforcement techniques. LEDET 405 has been working under the newly established Combined Task Force 151, set up specifically to fight pirates.
In addition, the cutter Boutwell recently embarked on a six-month, across-the-globe deployment with the Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group and is expected to be assigned to counter-piracy efforts as part of CTF 151 during that deployment, Salerno said.
“It’s not definite, but it is anticipated,” he said.
Napolitano also was briefed on the Coast Guard’s diplomatic role in the anti-piracy effort. Salerno said a group will depart next week for Djibouti, where they will meet with a regional working group trying to figure out exactly what to do with the pirates after they are captured.
“It’s one thing to catch them, it’s another thing to do something with them and deal with the consequences,” Salerno reported.
Another major threat and relatively new Coast Guard responsibility are self-propelled semi-submersible vessels being used to transport large amounts of drugs from Colombia to the U.S.
The vessels, which sit just on top of the water and are nearly impossible to detect, were recently outlawed in the U.S., giving the Coast Guard and other agencies the ability to prosecute the ship’s drivers and passengers even if all other evidence is dumped before captured.
The interagency counter-drug effort netted three SPSS interdictions in just eight days at the end of 2008 and the first few weeks of this year. Although the contraband was dumped before officials could collect the evidence, the three interdictions are the first being considered for prosecution. Commandant Adm. Thad Allen told Napolitano that the Justice Department is reviewing the cases to determine whether to prosecute. With the new law, smugglers could face up to 15 years in prison and a $1 million fine just for driving or riding in a semi-submersible.
Salerno also discussed the Coast Guard’s role in what has been dubbed the “miracle on the Hudson,” when an U.S. Airways pilot successfully landed an Airbus A320 in the Hudson River, saving all 155 passengers on board. New York City ferry boats were the first rescuers to arrive on scene, but Salerno said that response was coordinated through the Coast Guard.
The incident highlighted the service’s reliance on the private sector in rescue situations and border security. Salerno attributed the successful interagency communication to annual mass casualty drills that take place throughout the country.
“Those ferry operators participated in those mass casualty exercises that teach them how to communicate so they knew exactly who they needed to talk to during the incident,” he said.
Napolitano said she was struck by the department’s “huge mission” saying it would take several days just to be briefed by all the agencies. She said she visited the Coast Guard on her first official day in office because it is the largest “and one of the most important components” to the security of U.S. coasts.
She also echoed Obama’s desire to reach out to the Muslim community calling a priority but saying she had no clear policy at this time.
When asked whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency should remain under the department, Napolitano said “as long as it remains under the department it is an important part of the department,” but said she has not had time to discuss any organizational changes with the president. She said her biggest goal will be setting an “over-arching mission for the agency.”
Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2009/01/coastguard_napolitano_012209/