Benefits, costs, and trade-offs : strategic and operational decision making in the multi-mission U.S. Coast Guard : a first look

Abstract

The U.S. Coast Guard performs a diverse array of missions ensuring the maritime safety and security of America as well as the stewardship of her maritime resources. It efficiently and competently performs these missions along America's coasts, internal federal waters, and overseas every day. Conduct of these missions generates significant public value in the form of safe and efficient maritime commerce systems, the security and integrity of our nation's maritime borders, the protection of natural resources, and in lives saved. This thesis evaluates and, where possible, quantifies the value of Coast Guard services performed to enable a strategic comparison, across missions, of services delivered. This was accomplished by researching, evaluating, and consolidating relevant government and industry analyses and valuations of Coast Guard services and related services performed by other entities. In addition, this thesis summarizes and evaluates the process used by the Coast Guard to develop, communicate, and modify its operational planning to achieve service level goals across multiple mission areas.