Updated with some perspective from our Cadet Intern, 1/c Ryan Cassidy:
Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a Congressional hearing concerning a variety of topics about the Coast Guard. Admiral Allen testified before the subcommittee which was led by Senator Cantwell from Washington and was joined by Senator Wicker from Mississippi, Senator Snowe from Maine, and Senator Begich from Alaska. The hearing was a great way for me to see the oversight process in action. Below are some of my personal notes:
The hearing started with Senator Cantwell outlining three points of focus: mission balance, acquisition reform, and Modernization. She then specifically touched on Modernization metrics, the Arctic region, Coast Guard personnel numbers as well as Deepwater. Admiral Allen then presented his opening statement about the Commandant Intent Action Orders stating that there has been significant progress since they were issued three years ago. He discussed the request for $1.5 billion for new acquisitions and the Coast Guard’s goal to recapitalize and revamp its acquisitions program. Also testifying was Mr. Caldwell from the Government Accountability Office who touched on the Coast Guard’s FY 2010 budget and spent some time addressing the issue of using metrics to gauge the progress of Modernization. He stated that the Coast Guard had hundreds of metrics to use to measure effectiveness, but it was hard to tell which ones would be the best for gauging Modernization.
Senator Cantwell continued the hearing by asking Admiral Allen if the $2.1 billion increase to the funding forecast for Deepwater, bringing the total to $26.3 billion, would be an accurate estimate for finishing the project. Admiral Allen said the cost estimates were the result of improved asset-based analysis by the new acquisition directorate and that the revision of the acquisition process will keep us on the right track. (On a side note, an article was published in Congress Daily discussing this portion of the hearing. Just for clarification, the article is discussing the issue of recapitalization, not Modernization, as the title suggests. You should read the full GAO report to understand the broader context of the abridged focus this article provided.)
Senator Snowe then asked about tracking vessels and possibly redefining the regulations to include a greater number of vessels with regards to the small vessel security threat. When asked about our vulnerability, Admiral Allen stated that this was our greatest vulnerability. Admiral Allen suggested that one of the ways to solve the problem would be to make vessels over 65 feet to have Automated Identification Systems installed.
Senator Wicker then asked about the status of the first National Security Cutter the USCGC Bertholf which has just recently been placed in service. Admiral Allen stated that the Bertholf had passed all of its sea trials and machinery trials and is now deployed. The USCGC Waesche is currently 85-90% complete and will be commissioned later this year. Admiral Allen stated that a key step to controlling cost on the NSC is to avoid any break in production. Senator Cantwell had several questions related to the requirement and installation of a SCIF onboard the NSC. Admiral Allen offered to provide a classified briefing to address that topic in greater detail.
Senator Cantwell expressed some concern about the Coast Guard deviating from the new Coast Guard Major Systems Acquisition Manual. Both Mr. Caldwell and Admiral Allen acknowledged some deviation from the MSAM for the FRC, but that the decision to do so was a business case decision based on the need to get a patrol boat replacement in the fleet.
Another hot topic for the day was the status of the polar ice breakers stationed in the northwest. The Commandant stated that the minimum number of ice breakers we would need to maintain a strong presence in the Arctic region is three, and that the Coast Guard needs to complete the much needed repairs on the Polar Star. Admiral Allen discussed the need to maintain that current minimum required capability until a national discussion could be had on the future requirement and various options, i.e. new icebreakers or major overhaul of existing platforms.
Overall, the hearing was a great experience. Admiral Allen and Mr. Caldwell both talked about the business metrics that I had discussed last week and throughout the hearing I kept finding myself hearing things that I had been writing in my previous blogs. I was excited to hear them talk about the same things that I had talked about and hopefully I can keep coming out with relevant information. It was also one of the first times issues like these at such a high level, made sense to someone like me—an average college student. I think it just shows that even though topics like Modernization and acquisitions can seem over our heads, if we learn a little about them on our own, we can begin to understand how they really work. Thanks for reading!!
1/c Ryan Cassidy
"Cadet Disclaimer: These posts are my attempt to try to make Modernization more relevant and understandable to the junior workforce. These are the thoughts of a simple cadet and should not be taken as those of the Commandant. I still have some time to go before I could do that."
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Original Post:
The Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing on U.S. Coast Guard Oversight today.
A video of the hearing is available here, along with my written statement and the written statement of Mr. Stephen Caldwell, Director of Maritime Security and Coast Guard Issues U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Below is a copy of the highlights tweeted from the hearing:
Cong. hearing at 1000 http://ow.ly/gFpO Will tweet from it. Good read aheads http://ow.ly/gFq5 & http://ow.ly/gFqc
Hearing opening: Senator Cantwell's 3 points of focus: Mission balance, acquis reform, modernization
Sen. Snowe: Coast Guard is tasked with sweeping mandates...value of contribution to this nation is immeasurable.
Sen. Snowe: Year after year we ask more with less. Something has to change.
We are saving lives every day with Rescue 21 http://ow.ly/gCpZ
President recently established Oceans Task Force and I am working closely with CEQ on that.
Modernization has come a long way in 3 years and is delivering tangible results http://ow.ly/gCnS
GAO: CG has many measures, just has not decided which are best for modernization.
There is no national consensus for maritime sec. regime to address small vsl security threat
Sen. Snowe: is this (small vsl security threat) a serious vulnerability?
It (small vsl security threat) is the greatest maritime vulnerability
Sen. Wicker: Does advance purchase of Long Lead Materials for NSC result in lower costs?
Sen. Begich: Is CG working on long-term strategy for increasing accessibility/activity in the Arctic
We are actively looking at Arctic operating requirements http://ow.ly/gCsh
Sen. Begich: CG is critical in Arctic for life safety
Sen. Cantwell concerned with some acquisition not in full compliance with CG Acquis. manual
GAO: There has to be trade-off btwn stopping progress on major acquis. and stopping all activity to comply with new manual.
Visited Gallatin and Dallas last week http://ow.ly/gFAL & http://ow.ly/gFB7
HEC/NSC Mission Req: http://ow.ly/gCsO
re: Deviation from MSAM (Major Systems Acquisition Manual)-There was still critical acquis. work in prog. during transition to MSAM
Sen. Begich: What is adequate # of Polar Icebreakers
Minimum requirement is 3 operable Polar Icebreakers.
Sen. Cantwell: What steps are being taken to develop metrics for modernization
GAO: CG has many measures for effectiveness, but not efficiency. Difficult to measure "efficiency" from multi-mission platforms
Sen. Cantwell: what are the CGs non-Deepwater resources that we need to be concerned about?
GAO: non-Deepwater resources to be concerned about are ATON vsls and both polar and domestic icebreakers
My non-Deepwater resource concerns include ATON vsls (Inland tenders), domestic icebreakers and shore infrastructure.
Shore AC&I funding got to $100 million this year when you include stimulus. needs to stay at that lvl
