Senior leadership and the Coast Guard

Admiral Allen in Clearwater
Originally uploaded by Tidewater Muse

The MSM has been following the Commandant's visit to the Academy. You can hear the talk here.

This is certainly a new Coast Guard. Years ago, who would have thought that the Commandant would be out in front demanding transparency. It's against the culture, but if anybody can make the change, it's Admiral Allen. I can remember times years ago when, from the highest levels of the organization, we buried (or attempted to bury) bad news and challenges. All that does is make people suspect.

You can read accounts of last night's visit to the Academy all over the web. Here's Patricia Kime of the Navy Times. And here is Jennifer Grogan at the New London Day. You can catch more coverage here.

I was speaking with a colleague today who knew about my periodic fascination with Should Do This. He wanted to make a post -- but wouldn't as he was somewhat fearful of sticking his neck out, saying, "I'm not in a position where I can say something like this" -- which said U.S. President & Congress should agree to appoint Admiral Thad Allen to a 2nd term enabling him to continue his vision on modernizing the Coast Guard. {{And I can say something like that? Oh, right, I have... and I do... (Sorry, Captain T.)}}

We really do have, as another colleague of mine says, a rock-star commandant.

Appointing the Commandant to a second term smells too much like President-for-Life. However...

As far as I can gather, the Coast Guard is the only federal agency that has no political appointees. None. Zippo. Every other agency has at least one, and many agencies have many.

Another colleague of mine suggested this week that perhaps it was time for the Coast Guard to have at least one political appointee: A Secretary of the Coast Guard.

What would the Secretary of the Coast Guard do? Great question, and I'm not sure of the answer. Here's what the Secretary of the Army does:

The Secretary of the Army (SA) is the senior official of the Department of the Army and responsible for the effective and efficient functioning of the Army.

Among the responsibilities of the SA are—

(1) Advising the Secretary of Defense and the executive branch of the Federal Government on the capabilities and requirements of the Army to perform its statutory missions.

(2) Presenting and justifying Army policies, plans, programs, and budgets to the Secretary of Defense, executive branch, and Congress.

(3) Communicating Army policies, plans, programs, capabilities, and accomplishments to the public.

(4) Tasking other members of the EOH and other elements of the Army, as necessary, to accomplish missions and functions.

(5) Convening meetings with the senior leadership of the Army as necessary to debate issues, define and provide direction, and seek advice.

(6) Managing the external affairs and the compliance functions of the Army with the advice and assistance of the Chief of Staff, Army.

(7) Prescribing the relationships of each office in the Secretariat and Army Staff to ensure that the Chief of Staff receives such support as the Chief of Staff considers necessary to perform
assigned duties and responsibilities.

(8) Managing the Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army Program.

Over at Wikipedia, we learn that the Secretary of the Army is a "a non-Cabinet position serving under the Secretary of Defense."

With the Coast Guard's modernization efforts going on, is it time for a re-racking of political responsibilities, too? Historically, we've never been savvy on the political front. Admiral Allen is the exception for the Coast Guard, not the rule. And, some of Admiral Allen's political experience was gained quite by accident. Perhaps it is time for Congress to consider some changes and creating a Secretary of the Coast Guard.

And I wonder who might make a good first Secretary of the Coast Guard...