Vice Adm. Robert J. Papp, Jr. Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area, and Rear Adm. Paul Maddison, Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic and Maritime Forces Atlantic, signed a memorandum of understanding on board the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Spencer in Boston, Friday, July 24, 2009.
The MOU is to facilitate the exchange of personnel to enhance maritime domain awareness, promote the exchange of professional knowledge in operational matters, and improve tactical level interoperability in the maritime environment.
Under the MOU, U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Defence Command personnel will make regular liaison visits between U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center Atlantic (MIFC LANT) in Virginia Beach, Va., and TRINITY Joint Ocean Surveillance and Information Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. These visits continue a regular operational partnership between MIFC LANT and TRINITY to improve the ability of both U.S. and Canada to conduct maritime homeland security and defense missions.