The US Coast Guard is arguably the most adaptable and fluid branch of our nation’s armed forces. While the origin of the agency motto “Semper Paratus” is unknown, its applicability is apparent. In addition to Living Marine Resources, Search and Rescue, Marine Environmental Protection, and Marine Safety; the Homeland Security Act of 2022 authorized the five missions of our modern CG: drug interdiction, migrant interdiction, law enforcement, ports, waterways, and coast security, as well as defense readiness (About U.S. Coast Guard Missions (uscg.mil)). The last of which has been of increasing concern amid the need to safeguard international exclusive economic zone observance, particularly in the Western Pacific.
To sustain the fleet’s ability to complete operational missions, the CG Surface Forces Logistics Center (SFLC) serves as “the single logistics center for the Coast Guard surface fleet, providing engineering, maintenance, supply, and technical information services to 242 cutters and over 1,800 boats” (Surface Forces Logistics Center (uscg.mil)). Evolving mission sets, coupled with funding and workforce shortages, are prompting SFLC leaders to search for and develop low-cost means to enhance mission support strategies, to include use of condition-based maintenance, digital twin, and model-based systems engineering application. While a limitless budget, time to hit ‘pause’ amid real-world mission demand flow, and finite agency tasking would certainly pose an opportune environment for bolstering the modernization of CG logistics support, none of these conditions exist. The result is SFLC staff’s affinity for the following attributes while seeking industry and commercial support:
· Modularity – due to budget shortfalls, the ability to purchase products incrementally is key.
· Affordability – where the industrial base supports, the CG desires to purchase state-of-the-market Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) or Modified-Off-The-Shelf (MOTS) products to lower total ownership cost (TOC).
· Interchangeability – the CG rarely has the capacity to halt operations in favor of starting new, prompting the need integrate new technology-use aboard and amid aging platforms and systems.
· Autonomy – the nature of operations and need for security prompts the CG’s interest in being able to troubleshoot, repair, and maintain technology organically, once acquired.
CG SFLC staff looks forward to collaborating with industry to forward its ability to support Coast Guard missions. Please see the following POC during the 2024 International Work Boat Show for additional information and discussion:
Andrew Heil, PMP
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard
Deputy Chief, Engineering Services Division
Surface Forces Logistics Center
(571) 608-3653
