Tom Collins News

ADM Bob Papp’s Coast Guard tenure continues to be one of low profile victories, calm leadership and an emphasis on doing what is right for the Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp delivered the 2013 State of the Coast Guard (SOCG) Address at the National Defense University at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. on February 27. Adm. Papp assumed command of the Coast Guard in May of 2010, he had the unenviable task of following perhaps the most charismatic leader the Coast Guard has ever had. The high profile Thad Allen, dubbed by the mainstream media as “the rock star” Commandant, also more earned his reputation by firm leadership over the course of more than one highly visible crisis after another.

Ridge Global, an international provider of security and risk management services, has named Vice Admiral Brian Peterman (United States Coast Guard, Retired) and Matt Branigan as the newest members of Flag Bridge, a recently launched service focused on maritime risk and sovereignty management. "Strategic maritime challenges are increasing at an alarming rate," said Tom Ridge, Ridge Global President and CEO and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In addition to Peterman and Branigan, Flag Bridge members include: Admiral Tom Collins, 22nd Commandant of the USCG; Vice Admiral Jim Hull; former USCG Area Commander; Rear Admiral Norm Saunders, former USCG District Commander; and Dan Sheehan, former USCG Chief Information Officer.

Ridge Global Launches New Maritime Consulting Team - Flag Bridge; Top-tier Maritime Experts to Address Challenges in Global Maritime Risk and Sovereignty Management. Ridge Global, an international provider of security and risk management services, today announced the launch of Flag Bridge™, a new service focused on maritime risk and sovereignty management. The Flag Bridge team includes an elite cadre of former U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) admirals and distinguished maritime professionals…

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., and the United States Coast Guard celebrated a production and relationship milestone today with the delivery of Coastal Patrol Boat 52* SEA LION, WPB 87352, an 87-foot vessel of the Marine Protector Class, and the 100th patrol boat or cutter**, built by Bollinger for the Coast Guard. Bollinger has built the entire Coast Guard patrol boat fleet that includes 49, 110-foot Island Class and 51, 87-foot Marine Protector Class vessels. “We are extremely proud and deeply appreciative of our dedicated…

President Bush today nominated Vice Admiral Thomas H. Collins, 55, to be the 22nd Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, the Coast Guard’s Service Secretary, praised the President’s nomination, saying, “Admiral Collins reflects the best leadership traits of the dedicated men and women of the United States Coast Guard. He is the right person to lead the modern Coast Guard through today’s challenges to tomorrow’s promise of a safer, more secure American coastline and maritime transportation system. “Tom Collins brings a combination of scholarly intelligence, practical experience at sea, and Washington policy expertise to the critical job of commandant at a time when the Coast Guard is facing a host of new missions,” Secretary Mineta said.

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy released its final report - An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century. The 610-page report recommends establishment of a comprehensive and coordinated U.S. ocean policy. The report, like its earlier draft, is heavily weighted toward research, environmental protection, and state and local coordination. Sections relating to commercial activity on the water, such as carriage of goods and passengers, have been somewhat enhanced over the cursory treatment in the draft. President Bush issued a Statement in support of the work of the Commission, as did Admiral Tom Collins, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard. The Senate Commerce Committee will conduct a Hearing on September 21 to review the report and its various recommendations. (HK Law)