Is Coast Guard Acquisition on Target for Success

Coast Guards much  besieged Major Acquisition program has been under the eye of congress, and now a multi-million dollar law suit.  Has Coast Guard positioned itself for success?  The latest addition to the CG-9 Acquisition leadership is Rear Admiral John Korn.  His on-line biography indicates that he does not have a background in Acquisition.  Is Coast Guard setting the right course, or should more emphasis be placed on bringing in SES acquisition talent.

Rear Admiral John H. Korn assumed duties as the Coast Guard Program Executive Officer (PEO) and Director of Acquisition Programs on June 16, 2009. His duties as PEO include management oversight of all Coast Guard acquisition programs and projects, which provide for the sustainment, modernization, and recapitalization of surface, air, command and control, and logistics assets for the Coast Guard’s multiple maritime missions.

Prior to reporting as PEO of the Acquisition Directorate, RDML Korn served as Chief of Staff and second in command of the Eighth Coast Guard District.  The Eighth District is responsible for  U.S. Coast Guard operations in 26 states, more than 1,200 miles of coastline and 10,300 miles of inland waterways from Florida to Mexico, including the entire navigable lengths of the Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee River systems.

He has served in a variety of operational and staff tours during his career, including the first Commander of Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi, and Commanding Officer of Air Station Corpus Christi, Chief of Search and Rescue for the Eighth Coast Guard District, Commanding Officer of Air Station New Orleans and Engineering Officer of both Air Station Houston and Aviation Training Center Mobile. He also served as the Chief, Inventory Management Branch at the Aircraft Repair & Supply Center (ARSC), responsible for 90% of the Coast Guard Aviation support budget and all aviation inventories at AR&SC, repair facilities and 26 air stations. He attained qualifications in the HH-52A, HH-3F, HH-60J, HH-65A/B and the HU-25 and completed his Civilian Airline Transport Rating.

A native of northern New Jersey, RDML Korn graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. He received a master’s degree in Industrial Administration from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management in 1989.  He also completed the Advanced Management Program at the National Defense University, receiving a Chief Information Officer’s Certificate and is a 2004 graduate of the Naval War College Fleet Seminar Program. His military awards include the Legion of Merit and five CG Meritorious Service Medals.