ALCOAST 089/24 - FEB 2024 COAST GUARD POLAR COORDINATION OFFICE (CG-PCO) ESTABLISHMENT

R 201405Z FEB 24   MID120000898419U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 089/24
SSIC 5030
SUBJ: COAST GUARD POLAR COORDINATION OFFICE (CG-PCO) ESTABLISHMENT
1. This ALCOAST announces the establishment of the Polar
Coordination Office (CG-PCO) under the Director of Marine
Transportation Systems (CG-5PW). COMDT (CG-PCO) was stood up as
an office 04 July 2023 and reached Initial Operating Capacity during
a ceremony on 07 November 2023.
2. COMDT (CG-PCO) is charged with developing U.S. Coast Guard Arctic and
Antarctic strategy and policy. It supports the execution of these
through unified messaging and coordinated engagements within the
Coast Guard and across interagency and international fora in
conjunction with COMDT (CG-DCO-I) and other offices and operational
commands as appropriate. COMDT (CG-PCO) coordinates across the polar
enterprise at Coast Guard Headquarters and across the operational
areas on both polar policy and strategic issues. Its creation does
not change enterprise functions for development, execution, and
support of operations or acquisition and sustainment of
capabilities. In addition to Arctic and Antarctic Policy and
Strategy, the Polar Coordination Office includes Ocean Policy and
Programs. Both are focused on coordination, consultation, and
integration of policy among Federal, Tribal, State, and local
governments with a goal to advance both polar and ocean-related
policy in promoting the interests of the United States and our
partners.
3. COMDT (CG-PCO) will continue to use the Polar Enterprise
Coordinating Team as the effective working group to coordinate
polar engagements, events, and staff-level discussions between
operational commanders and the policy and principal planning
agents. These efforts will continue to support the Polar Executive
Steering Committee (i.e. Polar Principals) to provide direction
and alignment throughout the polar enterprise.
4. COMDT (CG-PCO) is a conduit and advocate for Polar information
and strategic effects through a diverse group of stakeholders
including all internal Coast Guard Directorates and external
partners including: Dept. of Defense, State Department, National
Security Council, National Science Foundation, Dept. of Homeland
Security, Coast Guard Task Force-Arctic, Coast Guard District 17,
Coast Guard District 1, Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Studies,
Center for Arctic Study and Policy (CASP), among others.
5. The Vice Commandant recently signed the Arctic Strategic Outlook
Implementation Plan, which is comprised of 14 interconnected
initiatives to actualize and execute the Arctic Strategic Outlook's
lines of effort. COMDT (CG-PCO) will work with the initiative leads
to regularly update the status of action items and brief U.S. Coast
Guard leadership on progress. The Arctic strategic documents are
available here:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.uscg.mil/Arctic

6. The following are COMDT (CG-PCO) POCs:
    a. PCO Shared Mailbox: smb-comdt-polar@uscg.mil
    b. Office Chief: CAPT Chris Webb,
        Christopher.S.Webb@uscg.mil, (202) 372-1524
    c. Senior Arctic Policy Advisor: Mr. Shannon Jenkins
        Shannon.R.Jenkins@uscg.mil, (202) 372-1564
    d. Senior Ocean Policy & Program Advisor: Mrs. Candace Nachman
        Candace.A.Nachman@uscg.mil, (202) 372-1065
    e. Polar Mission Coordinator: CDR Sam Blase
        Samuel.A.Blase@uscg.mil, (202)372-1532
    f. Arctic Policy Analyst: Mr. David Raboy
        David.A.Raboy@uscg.mil, (202) 372-1523
    g. Deputy / Polar Resource Manager: LCDR Matt Tolliver
        Robert.M.Tolliver2@uscg.mil, (202) 372-1506
7. Mr. Mike Emerson, Director of Marine Transportation System
Management (CG-5PW), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.