ALCOAST 164/26 - JUN 2026 ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY RELATING TO ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT AGAINST SENIOR LEADERS

R 051636Z JUN 26   MID120041298412U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 164/26
SSIC 1600
SUBJ: ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY RELATING TO ALLEGATIONS OF
MISCONDUCT AGAINST SENIOR LEADERS
A. Discipline and Conduct, COMDTINST 1600.2
B. Military Justice Manual, COMDTINST 5810.1H
C. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, Sec 2537
D. Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025
E. Investigations of Allegations Against Senior DoD Officials,
DoDD 5505.06
1. This ALCOAST announces an update to Chapter 1 of REF (A) and
Chapter 2 of REF (B) establishing policy to improve oversight,
investigation, accountability, and public transparency regarding
alleged misconduct by senior leaders of the Coast Guard. This update
is made pursuant to REFs (C) and (D), and shall be consistent with
REF (E) to the extent practicable.
2. Any allegation of misconduct made against a senior leader shall
be reported to the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) within
24 hours, and CGIS will report it to the Office of the Inspector
General (OIG) of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating not later than 72 hours after the allegation is reported
to the Coast Guard or the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating. If OIG notification is required, the command and CGIS are
prohibited from initiating an investigation unless the OIG requests
assistance or refers the investigation back to the Coast Guard.
3. The Inspector General of the department shall notify the head of
the Coast Guard office in which the senior leader is serving with
respect to the receipt of such allegation, or, in a case where the
senior leader is the head of such Coast Guard office, the next in
the chain of command, as appropriate, except in a case in which the
Inspector General determines that such notification would risk
impairing an ongoing investigation would unnecessarily compromise
the anonymity or the individual making the allegation, or would
otherwise, be inappropriate. This requirement includes alleged
misconduct committed before the person became a senior leader as
defined in this section.
4. Definitions:
    a. "Alleged misconduct" refers to a credible allegation that
would constitute a violation of criminal law, including the
Uniform Code of Military Justice; a violation of a recognized
standard (including applicable regulations); or other conduct of
concern that could otherwise reasonably be expected to be of
significance to the Secretary or OIG of the department in which the
Coast Guard is operating, particularly in a case in which there is
an element of misuse of position or of unauthorized personal benefit
to the senior official, a family member, or an associate.
    b. "Senior Leader of the Coast Guard" for the purpose of this
ALCOAST refers to any Coast Guard officer (active, retired, or
reserve) in grades O-7 or higher or selected to the grade O-7 or
higher, or a current or former civilian member of the Senior
Executive Service or equivalent position.
5. Policy questions may be directed to COMDT (CG-WMM-21) at:
HQSPolicyandStandards@uscg.mil or COMDT (CG-LMJ) at:
smb-comdt-lst-cg-lmj@uscg.mil.
6. These changes will be reflected in the next revisions of
REFs (A) and (B), respectively.
7. ADM Tom Allan Jr., Vice Commandant (VCG), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.