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Message from the Commandant
As America prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, the U.S. Coast Guard stands ready – as we have for more than two centuries – to safeguard our Nation, protect our maritime interests, and answer the call whenever and wherever we are needed. Our legacy is built on honor, respect, and devotion to duty, and it lives on every day through the professionalism, dedication, and readiness of our exceptional workforce.
Today’s maritime environment is increasingly complex, shaped by evolving threats, rapid technological change, and growing demands on our country’s waterways, ports, and borders. For 236 years, Coast Guard men and women have answered the call, delivering value to the American people through mission excellence, operational readiness, and trusted partnerships.
Action Order 26-02 provides the framework for how the Service will execute four paramount mission outcomes across four operational domains that make up the U.S. homeland, ensuring we remain ready to meet today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s demands.
The stories in this edition showcase the people, operations, and initiatives that are advancing these priorities and strengthening our Service as we continue to serve the Nation – today and into America’s next 250 years.
ADM Kevin E. Lunday
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 Commandant
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The Coast Guard Announces New Training Center at Birmingham-Southern
The Coast Guard acquired a new training center on the campus of Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) in Birmingham, Alabama, to expand the workforce and meet critical mission needs. The first students are expected to begin training at the new site in late 2026.
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The Coast Guard Establishes New Special Missions Command
The newly established Special Missions Command will strengthen the Coast Guard’s ability to respond to a broad spectrum of national emergencies and complex maritime challenges. By unifying advanced capabilities and specialized units, the Command enhances the Nation’s security posture in an evolving operational environment.
Delivering Capability at Speed
In the first 10 months after receiving nearly $25 billion through the Fiscal Year 2025 budget reconciliation, the Coast Guard has obligated more than $13 billion to accelerate delivery of operational capability. These funds are building polar and Arctic icebreakers, procuring new MH-60R helicopters, expanding command, control, communications, cyber, and unmanned systems, and modernizing the shore infrastructure that supports every Coast Guard mission. This is the most significant single investment in Coast Guard readiness in decades.
The results are already visible. Polar Security Cutters, Arctic Security Cutters, and additional Waterways Commerce Cutters are moving into production, while major infrastructure projects are underway in Alaska, Seattle, Guam, Charleston, Baltimore, Newport, and Training Center Cape May. The Coast Guard is also fielding autonomous systems and advanced maritime domain awareness technologies to improve surveillance, decision-making, and response. These investments are saving lives; controlling, securing, and defending the U.S. border and maritime approaches; facilitating commerce vital to economic security and strategic mobility; enabling response to crises and contingencies that may come with little or no warning. For the American people, this means a more agile, capable and responsive Coast Guard with the ships, aircraft, technology, and facilities needed to protect the homeland and defend U.S. interests for decades to come.
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Eyes Beyond the Horizon: Bringing the Future of Search and Rescue into the Present
The Coast Guard is turning to unmanned systems to help search and rescue crews gain faster awareness and respond with greater precision and safety. This paradigm shift has new momentum, advancing robotics and autonomous systems from future promise to current operational reality.
How the Coast Guard is Transforming Training for Tomorrow’s Missions
The Coast Guard is modernizing its training to prepare both new recruits and current personnel for a rapidly evolving mission landscape. Through expanded training capabilities, including the recent purchase of a new training facility, the Service is strengthening readiness and equipping its people for emerging operational challenges.
Securing the Digital Horizon: The Future of Coast Guard Cyber Operations
As the maritime industry becomes increasingly intertwined with the digital world, operations in cyberspace have never been more important. Coast Guard Cyber Command’s 2025 Cyber Trends and Insights in the Marine Environment report provides a clear-eyed assessment of the current threat landscape and the path we must navigate to secure our maritime future.
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The USCG Polar Star crew returned to Seattle after completing Operation Deep Freeze 2026. The crew travelled more than 23,000 miles to break ice channels, escort supply ships, and sustain the U.S. Antarctic Program, reinforcing U.S. presence, scientific research, and national security interests in Antarctica.
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COAST GUARD IN MOTION
From search and rescue cases and maritime law enforcement operations to the people behind the uniform, this elite team captures the full scope of Coast Guard service, giving the public a closer look at the missions and individuals serving across the maritime domain every day.
And More
USCGC Bear and an embarked helicopter crew recently seized more than 7,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific, pushing Operation Pacific Viper past an incredible 225,000 pounds interdicted.
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Congratulations to Commander Andre Douglas on his selection for the next Artemis III mission. We proudly celebrate Commander Douglas as he carries his Coast Guard legacy to the next frontier.
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Sail 250 officially kicked off in New Orleans, launching a series of celebrations across five key port cities (New Orleans, Norfolk, Baltimore, New York City, and Boston). This international maritime gathering commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
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United States Coast Guard |
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