The Coast Guard in transition : organization change in response to September 11

Abstract

Since the events of September 11, 2001 and the continuing terrorist threats facing the United States, the Coast Guard faces a number of new organizational and operational challenges. Many structural changes have occurred within a short period. Organizations have been regrouped and cross-organizational units have been formed in the recently established Department of Homeland Security. This thesis summarizes these changes and examines past and current roles of the Coast Guard. Data for this work include interviews, official documents and personal experience. Based on these materials, the thesis concludes with a set of recommendations that senior executives in the Coast Guard might consider to ease some of the current organizational challenges the Service now faces