Presidential Actions This Week

December 30, 2009  Memorandum of Disapproval

---

December 29, 2009  Presidential Memorandum – Watchlisting Procedures

---

December 29, 2009  Presidential Memorandum – Aviation Screening

---

December 29, 2009  Executive Order – Original Classification Authority

---

December 29, 2009  Presidential Memorandum – Implementation of the Executive Order, “Classified National Security Information”

---

December 29, 2009  Executive Order – Classified National Security Information 

Another Great Day for Comments at Coast Guards Number One Blog

We just updated the “Updates” page.  Comments today were plentiful, tempered and on subject.  We had a number comments on the Ensign Lindsay Cook post that take on a different view today.  Why Admiral Thad Allen Blogs had a few comments worth taking a look at.  Comments are still being posted on our post bragging about calling the next Commandant 2 weeks before the announcement.  Oops, we just bragged again.  Sorry.  And … last nights post on our busy day reader comments was one of the busiest posts of the day.

Why Admiral Thad Allen Blogs is Still a Mystery

Lt Ryan Erickson dot com has been running a series on why people blog.  His latest respondent to that question is long time supporter Admiral Thad Allen.  Allen’s answer to that question leaves us asking, “What?”

I’ve been following the evolution of both social networking theory and information technology for quite some time. Over a year ago, it became very apparent that the new [so-called] digital natives were coming into the Coast Guard. They were coming from a different social atmosphere, if you will. [In response], we decided to start a series of experiments that kind of took hold and became permanent operations. A year ago April, we set up a Facebook page for me, so I could experiment with it. It became so popular that I needed an official Coast Guard Facebook page. We created an official commandant’s Facebook page, where you sign on as a fan rather than [as] a friend, so we could manage it better.

The real breakthrough, though, came last fall when we completely changed our website. [We introduced] the Commandant’s Corner. We also established a Commandant’s blog: iCommandant. To date, we have well over 400 posts [to that blog]. It is a way I can communicate with the general public and my own people on strategic issues. When I’m traveling, focusing on things that are important, I can [update folks through the blog]. I also have guest [bloggers] post. It’s been a terrific way to expand the discussion, create more inclusiveness about what we’re doing, solicit stakeholder input, and move beyond some of the traditional [ways to communicate]. It’s still a work in progress. It’s still going to evolve, but we’re very encouraged by where we are right now.   Admiral Thad W. Allen, 23rd CCG

Questions:

1. Expand what discussion?  Every comment left on iCommandant that gave feedback, or asked a question about a failed or struggling program resulted in the employee asking the question being counseled. 
2. More inclusiveness?  How so brown cow.  There is no discussion, and any inclusiveness that might have been generated has been destroyed by the 48 hour response time.  The dozens of Flag Officers, Captains, etc. between the Commandant and the end-user who asked an inclusive question react with fear, frustration and rage at the turnaround response time.  They vent that frustration on the person asking the question and everyone in between.
3. Solicit stakeholder input?  Admiral, are you reading what you said?  Every stakeholder who has stood up over the past four years has been beaten down.  Look at what you did to the employees who told you two years before Booz Allen Hamilton that you had problems in OOH.  You have  never spoken to or made a single one of those employees whole.
4. Move  beyond traditional ways to communicate?    Yes indeed Admiral, it’s still a work in progress and it scares the hell out of parts of your workforce that you’re encouraged by where you are right now.

Commandant of the Coast Guard Disturbed About Comments on Coast Guard Report

Well, not exactly.  But if Admiral Thad Allen wants feed back, he’s not getting any.  Coast Guard Report on the other hand got plenty of it today.  About 21 readers left us a note of feedback today.  Most on our Ensign Cook post.  Some in support but the vast majority smacked us around a bit.  We published them all, the good, the bad and the very ugly.

You can view them all on the Updates page.

Flag Officer Announcement

From Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) — Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced Dec. 28 the following assignments:

Rear Adm. (lower half) Terry J. Benedict will be assigned as director for strategic systems programs, Arlington, Va. Benedict is currently serving as program executive officer for integrated warfare systems, Washington, D.C.

Rear Adm. Julius S. Caesar will be assigned as vice director, joint concept development and experimentation, J9, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Va. Caesar previously served as deputy commander, Navy Installations Command, Washington, D.C.

Rear Adm. (lower half) James D. Cloyd will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Five, Yokosuka, Japan. Cloyd previously served as associate director, Assessment Division, N81D, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Edward S. Hebner will be assigned as commander, Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command, San Diego, Calif. Hebner is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Seven, San Diego.

Rear Adm. Christopher J. Mossey will be assigned as commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command and chief of civil engineers, Washington, D.C. Mossey is currently serving as director, Ashore Readiness Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and vice commander, Navy Installations Command, Washington.

Rear Adm. Michael S. O’Bryan will be assigned as commander, Navy Air and Missile Defense Command, Dahlgren, Va. O’Bryan is currently serving as director, Navy Maritime Domain Awareness, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington.

Ensure you are in Compliance with Coast Guard Policy on Social Media before Posting

Ever visit Coast Guards District 17 Blog leave a comment?  Chances are NOT.  The opening page of the D17 Blog greets visitors and readers with a flashing (literally) red warning.

Ensure you are in compliance with Coast Guard policy on social media before posting

Clicking on the link below the warning takes visitors to a list of required reading before leaving a comment.  You guessed it right, not many people are willing take the challenge and possibly write something in a comment that might somehow be viewed as “inappropriate.”

We went all the way back to October 1st 2009, and found only three comments.  Plenty of posts by the D17 Public Affairs staff, but very few comments.  We’ve covered this topic before, Coast Guard has put the fear of God in its employees when it comes to feedback and comments on official Coast Guard blogs.

While DoD and corporate America are taking advantage of 360 feedback to strengthen and reinforce their best business practices, the service that brought America Deepwater are stuck on zero.

Coast Guard is still very much at odds with how to deal with Social Media.

Ensign Lindsay Cook – Money Well Spent or a Waste of Money

The Coast Guard Blog “Compass” has a new series featuring a brand spanking new Ensign named Lindsay Cook.  Her mission as a staff officer with no operational experience is to travel the united states visiting units coast to coast and blogging about it.  The question is … is this a good use of your tax dollars.  The better question for some units is; “what could we fund with that money.”

We wonder if this isn’t right up there with Coast Guards “Born Ready” recruiting adds.  Coast Guard has a waiting list for Boot Camp, but is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a recruiting campaign.  Who is the targeted audience for Cook’s blog, … Coasties with operational experience?  What are your thoughts on the young Ensign’s travels.

Hello Everyone, I am Ensign Lindsay Cook.

About a year ago I graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, and aspired to join the Coast Guard. I put in my package to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was determined to be a Coastie even if I didn’t get selected to attend OCS. Well, I got in! I started OCS in January and was commissioned in May 2009.

My first assignment (fresh out of OCS) is a staff tour as a public affairs officer in Portsmouth, VA. This is rare…I just got extremely lucky. Since I started my career in the CG at a staff tour and don’t have any first hand operations experience, my CAPT decided to get me some operational time. I am stoked about learning from my fellow shipmates and seeing what goes on everyday in the CG. What better way to learn than getting hands-on experience with subject matter experts! Not only do I get to experience the CG’s operations, but I also have the opportunity to share my experiences and my shipmate’s stories. It’s my hope that as I learn and blog, both you and I gain a better understanding of the CG’s operational missions and get to know the diverse group of people who make these missions happen.

Please know that I am learning about the CG’s missions first hand during each visit, so I don’t really know what to expect, but feel free to ask me questions anytime. I’m not a subject matter expert and may not be able to answer your question immediately but I will do my best to find an answer. If after I do a little research and I’m still stumped, then I’ll just be honest and say I don’t know.

I am about to take you on my journey as I learn about the CG’s missions first hand during each unit I visit. There’s a lot in store and I can’t wait. Let’s do this….

-ENS Lindsay Cook

Coast Guard Report – Holiday Weekend Update

• Admiral Thad W. Allen – 2006 Senate Confirmation Hearing (Part 7)
• Nigerian National Charged with Attempting to Destroy Northwest Airlines Aircraft
• Holiday Scuttlebutt from CGR “Don’t Hit the Send Button”
• Admiral Thad W. Allen – 2006 Senate Confirmation Hearing (Part 6)
• Your Feedback will be Helpful in Shaping iCommandant’s use and value
• Hockey Club Starts Scholarship to Honor Young Goalie Killed in Coast Guard Boating Accident
• Admiral Thad W. Allen – 2006 Senate Confirmation Hearing (Part 5)
• RDML Joseph “Pepe” Castillo, Commander, Eleventh District on the San Diego Bay Incident
• The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
• Chairman Rockefeller Statement on President Obama’s Nomination of 24th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard
• Merry Christmas
• 12 O’Clock Reports – ALCOAST Update
• Admiral Thad W. Allen – 2006 Senate Confirmation Hearing (Part 4)
• Updates Page Updated
• Admiral Thad W. Allen’s Accomplishments as 23rd Commandant of the Coast Guard (Part 1)

Admiral Thad W. Allen – 2006 Senate Confirmation Hearing (Part 7)

Though these questions were asked and answered by Allen in 2006; Admiral Papp will follow a near identical path.

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

1. Describe all financial arrangements, deferred compensation agreements, and other continuing dealings with business associates, clients, or customers: None.

2. Do you have any commitments or agreements, formal or informal, to maintain employment, affiliation or practice with any business, association or other organization during your appointment? None.

3. Indicate any investments, obligations, liabilities, or other relationships which could involve potential conflicts of interest in the position to which you have been nominated: None.

4. Describe any business relationship, dealing, or financial transaction which you have had during the last 5 years, whether for yourself, on behalf of a client, or acting as an agent, that could in any way constitute or result in a possible conflict of interest in the position to which you have been nominated: None.

5. Describe any activity during the past 5 years in which you have been engaged for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the passage, defeat, or modification of any legislation or affecting the administration and execution of law or public policy.

While assigned to offices list below I participated in the formation, presentation, and defense of annual Coast Guard appropriation requests and authorizing legislation. This activity included, but was not limited to, development of budget estimates, preparations for Congressional hearings, submission of materials to Congressional staffs, discussion with Congressional staffs and members, and attendance at or testimony provided for hearings.

6. Explain how you will resolve any potential conflict of interest, including any that may be disclosed by your responses to the above items.

I would obtain advice from the Department DAEO or his designee as appropriate and take appropriate action to resolve the conflict.

Nigerian National Charged with Attempting to Destroy Northwest Airlines Aircraft

DoJ Press Release

WASHINGTON – A 23-year-old Nigerian man was charged in a federal criminal complaint today with attempting to destroy a Northwest Airlines aircraft on its final approach to Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Christmas Day, and with placing a destructive device on the aircraft.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, a Nigerian national, boarded Northwest Flight 253 in Amsterdam, Netherlands on December 24, 2009 and had a device attached to his body. As the flight was approaching Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Abdulmutallab set off the device, which resulted in a fire and what appears to have been an explosion. Abdulmutallab was then subdued and restrained by the passengers and flight crew. The airplane landed shortly thereafter, and he was taken into custody by Customs and Border Patrol officers.

A preliminary FBI analysis found that the device contained PETN, also known as pentaerythritol, a high explosive. Further analysis is ongoing. In addition, FBI agents recovered what appear to be the remnants of the syringe from the vicinity of Abdulmutallab’s seat, believed to have been part of the device.

“This alleged attack on a U.S. airplane on Christmas Day shows that we must remain vigilant in the fight against terrorism at all times,” Attorney General Eric Holder said. “Had this alleged plot to destroy an airplane been successful, scores of innocent people would have been killed or injured. We will continue to investigate this matter vigorously, and we will use all measures available to our government to ensure that anyone responsible for this attempted attack is brought to justice.”

Abdulmutallab required medical treatment, and was transported to the University of Michigan Medical Center after the plane landed. He will make his initial court appearance later today.

Interviews of all of the passengers and crew of Flight 253 revealed that prior to the incident, Abdulmutallab went to the bathroom for approximately twenty minutes, according to the affidavit. Upon returning to his seat, Abdulmutallab stated that his stomach was upset, and he pulled a blanket over himself. Passengers then heard popping noises similar to firecrackers, smelled an odor, and some observed Abdulmutallab’s pants leg and the wall of the airplane on fire. Passengers and crew then subdued Abdulmutallab and used blankets and fire extinguishers to put out the flames. Passengers reported that Abdulmutallab was calm and lucid throughout. One flight attendant asked him what he had had in his pocket, and he replied “explosive device.”

These prosecutions are being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Customs and Border Protection, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

The public is reminded that criminal complaints contain mere allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.