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87–603 PDF 2003

S. HRG. 107–958

NOMINATION OF VICE ADMIRAL

THOMAS H. COLLINS TO BE COMMANDANT OF

THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

HEARING

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, 

SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION 

UNITED STATES SENATE

ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2002

Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

(

(II)

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

ERNEST F. HOLLINGS, South Carolina, Chairman 

DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii 

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia 

JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts 

JOHN B. BREAUX, Louisiana 

BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota 

RON WYDEN, Oregon 

MAX CLELAND, Georgia 

BARBARA BOXER, California 

JOHN EDWARDS, North Carolina 

JEAN CARNAHAN, Missouri 

BILL NELSON, Florida 

JOHN McCAIN, Arizona 

TED STEVENS, Alaska 

CONRAD BURNS, Montana 

TRENT LOTT, Mississippi 

KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas 

OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine 

SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas 

GORDON SMITH, Oregon 

PETER G. FITZGERALD, Illinois 

JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada 

GEORGE ALLEN, Virginia

KEVIN D. KAYES, Democratic Staff Director 

JEANNE BUMPUS, Republican Staff Director and General Counsel 

(III)

C O N T E N T S 

Page 

Hearing held on March 19, 2002 ............................................................................ 1 

Statement of Senator Kerry .................................................................................... 1 

Statement of Senator Inouye .................................................................................. 2 

Statement of Senator Stevens ................................................................................ 2 

Statement of Senator Snowe ................................................................................... 3 

Statement of Senator Cleland ................................................................................. 4 

WITNESS

Collins, Vice Admiral Thomas H., Commandant [G-CV], U.S. Coast Guard, 

nominee to be Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard ...................................... 5 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 7 

Biographical information ................................................................................. 9 

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD

McCain, Hon. John, prepared statement ............................................................... 21

(1)

NOMINATION OF VICE ADMIRAL 

THOMAS H. COLLINS TO BE COMMANDANT 

OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD 

TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2002 

U.S. SENATE, 

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION, 

Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:34 p.m., in room

SR-253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. John F. Kerry,

presiding. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN F. KERRY,

U.S. SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

Senator KERRY. This hearing will come to order. 

Admiral, we welcome you here this afternoon. I am blessed to be 

surrounded by more wisdom and ability in the U.S. Senate than at 

any time previously, and I thank my colleagues for being here. 

Admiral, I suppose we could say that you are a native of Stoton, 

Mass., and your wife, I have just learned, is a native—or at least 

was born in Brighton—so the hearing could end right there. That 

is enough. 

But it is a great pleasure to welcome you here. You are to be congratulated, and all of your family, on an extraordinary career and 

to reach the post potentially of Commandant—I say potentially, because the formality of this hearing is really all that stands between 

you, and your confimation—is really terrific. 

The Coast Guard obviously is largely unknown, a lot of people in 

America are not aware of its size, 35,000 people in uniform. It is 

about the size of the New York City Police Department. I think you 

save on average about 14 lives a day and interdict several hundred 

tons of cocaine each day on average and provide just an enormous 

service. 

That service obviously has grown markedly since 9/11. A lot of 

people again are not aware of it, but the Coast Guard is escorting 

major vessels into our ports in the country. We have an enormous 

number of ports in America, of rivers, I think about a thousand 

harbor channels and 25,000 miles of inland, intracoastal and coastal waterways, serving over 300 ports comprised of more than 3,700 

terminals. Ninety-five percent of all of the commercial traffic of the 

United States was carried through the waterways. Unfortunately, 

as we learned only too well recently, only about two percent of that 

gets inspected. 

2

So the mission for you and the members of the Coast Guard is 

just getting more and more complicated. We know you are beginning two major acquisition programs, the Integrated Deepwater 

System that Senators Snowe and Stevens and Inouye and I have 

fought for for a long time, the Response Systems Modernization 

Project, and the national distress project, which will greatly improve the service to the country. 

I think Senator Snowe and I are particularly concerned about the 

gaps in that service, which happen to fall on New Jersey, New 

Hampshire, Maryland, and South Carolina, so Senator Hollings obviously also is concerned about it, and it is something we hope will 

be filled very quickly. 

But we do not need to belabor these introductions at all. It is my 

honor to have Senator Stevens, who I know wants to introduce you. 

But we welcome you and Nancy, and again, we really are grateful 

for your years of service and look forward to your stewardship in 

this most important position. 

Senator Stevens. 

Senator STEVENS. My friend was here first. 

Senator KERRY. Well, I try to go back and forth, but I am happy 

to break the protocol, particularly since you suggested it. 

STATEMENT OF HON. DANIEL K. INOUYE,

U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII 

Senator INOUYE. I thank you very much, Senator Stevens and 

Mr. Chairman. I simply want to associate myself with your remarks, Mr. Chairman, and to simply add by saying that my constituents, the people of Hawaii, respect and love this man. So if you 

want my vote at this moment, you have got it. 

I thank you very much. Will you please excuse me. 

Admiral COLLINS. Thank you, sir. 

Senator KERRY. Thanks so much, Senator Inouye. Thank you 

very much. 

Senator Stevens. 

STATEMENT OF HON. TED STEVENS,

U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA 

Senator STEVENS. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. It is a 

pleasure to be here to formally introduce Vice Admiral Thomas Collins, the President’s nominee to become the twenty-second Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. 

I think Vice Admiral Collins is an excellent choice to lead this 

organization, and it has an increased level of responsibility now because the men and women of the Coast Guard have taken on additional duties to protect and secure our homeland. 

Vice Admiral Collins has been on the front line serving on our 

Nation’s coastline. He served tours first as a lieutenant and a deck 

watch officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant and as Commander of the Coast Guard Cutter Cape Morgan. He then moved 

into the group operations in St. Petersburg, Florida, and then as 

Captain of the Port for Long Island Sound and New Haven, Connecticut. His dual background in marine safety and operational 

issues will be relied on as the Coast Guard’s role in homeland secuVerDate Apr 24 2002 11:26 Jul 23, 2003 Jkt 087603 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6601 S:\WPSHR\GPO\DOCS\87603.TXT SCOM2 PsN: JACKF
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rity is developed and refined, as I know we must do in coming 

years. 

Vice Admiral Collins served as commander of the Pacific Area 

and the Eleventh Coast Guard District, very close to home, Mr. 

Chairman. Alaska is the largest district in the Pacific area and the 

challenges of our area, the North Pacific, are well known to the Admiral. Foreign fishing vessels encroach on our maritime boundary 

line continually. 

Many of Alaska’s fishermen in remote communities depend on 

the Coast Guard’s search and rescue program in the harshest of 

conditions. 

The Coast Guard in my State of Alaska, more than half of the 

coastline of the United States, have a special and important relationship that I know the Vice Admiral appreciates and will continue to foster under his command leadership. I do not know if 

many of you realize how many babies the Coast Guard actually delivers from time to time in those helicopters, and it really does 

have a special relationship to us. 

I am very pleased that the Admiral has asked me to comment 

on his background. The selection process that has brought Vice Admiral Collins to this Committee hearing is a very competitive process and you deserve a great deal of credit for having been selected. 

Your 34 years of dedicated service to this country provides you 

with a diversity of experience to lead the men and women of our 

country who will wear the uniform of your service, and I think that 

you will lead us into the future. It is an uncertain future right now, 

but it is very certain for the Coast Guard with you as the Commandant. 

Mr. Chairman, I welcome this opportunity. 

Senator KERRY. Thank you very much, Senator Stevens. 

Senator Snowe. 

STATEMENT OF HON. OLYMPIA J. SNOWE,

U.S. SENATOR FROM MAINE 

Senator SNOWE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Very briefly, I too, 

want to welcome Vice Admiral Collins to this Committee. You are 

certainly the right person for this multifaceted, multimission agency. You possess, based on your experience, I think the rare combination of Coast Guard experience, skilled leadership, and experience in working with other agencies. That combination of credentials I think is essential and pivotal in guiding the Coast Guard toward the future. 

As we know, in the wake of September 11th, the challenges that 

confront the Coast Guard in fulfilling its Homeland Security responsibilities are tremendous. The Coast Guard has to fulfil these 

new responsibilities and obligations along with its many other traditional obligations and missions that the American people have 

come to expect from the Coast Guard. 

I know that you will be able to guide the Coast Guard through 

these perilous times. Additonally, I know you will be able to lead 

the Coast Guard towards modernization, especially the Deepwater 

Project that is going to be so essential to the Coast Guard’s future. 

Admiral Collins, I want to welcome you. I think you provide remarkable experience at a time in which the Coast Guard is cerVerDate Apr 24 2002 11:26 Jul 23, 2003 Jkt 087603 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6601 S:\WPSHR\GPO\DOCS\87603.TXT SCOM2 PsN: JACKF
4

tainly going to require it. I know you will continue what Admiral 

Loy has done over the last 4 years, and I know that the Coast 

Guard is going to be in good stead for the future. 

[The prepared statement of Senator Olympia Snowe follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR OLYMPIA J. SNOWE

I would like to thank the Chair for holding this hearing today. As you noted, the 

current Commandant will complete his tour of duty on May 30th, and it is critical 

the Senate consider his replacement before that time. 

First, let me express my appreciation for the efforts of Admiral Loy, the outgoing 

Commandant, over the past 4 years. He has carried out his duties with distinction 

and remarkable accomplishment, particularly during the tumultuous times in the 

wake of the horrific attacks of September 11th. 

Since then, Admiral Loy has led the Coast Guard through its largest port security 

operation since World War II, and he has worked tirelessly to ensure the Coast 

Guard is ready to respond to any threat. With his sure and steady hand at the 

helm, he led the Coast Guard through numerous readiness challenges and he has 

been at the forefront in advocating the Deepwater project which is now coming to 

the production phase. As the Coast Guard has increasingly been called upon to do 

more with less, Admiral Loy has navigated these difficult waters effectively and 

with impressive leadership, and I want to publicly thank him for his tireless efforts 

on behalf of the Coast Guard and the Nation. 

It is vital the new Commandant of the Coast Guard maintains this course and 

I have every confidence that Admiral Collins is the right person for the job. The 

Coast Guard is an integral component of the federal government. Through its search 

and rescue operations, the Coast Guard aids people in distress and prevents injuries, loss of life, and loss of property on our waters. 

It enforces all federal laws and treaties related to the high seas and U.S. waters. 

It is the lead federal agency for preventing and responding to major pollution incidents in the coastal zone. It makes our ports and shipping lanes safe for efficient 

maritime transportation and commerce. And as one of the armed services, it plays 

a critical role in our Nations’s defense strategy. 

As the Chair noted, the nominee for Commandant before us today has compiled 

a long and distinguished career in the service of our Nation. Admiral Collins currently serves as the Coast Guard’s Vice Commandant where he has served by Admiral Loy’s side for the past 2 years. In this position he has been instrumental in implementing readiness and retention plans to strengthen the Coast Guard. 

Before assuming this position, he served as the Coast Guard’s Commander of the 

Pacific Area and the Commander of the U.S. Maritime Defense Zone in the Pacific. 

Admiral Collins has served in a variety of assignments throughout his exemplary 

career which was highlighted by his command of a cutter and a Group, assignment 

as a Captain of the Port, and later serving as a District Commander. 

Mr. Chairman, Admiral Collins clearly has very impressive qualifications for this 

high position for which he has been nominated. I look forward to his testimony and 

to working with him, and I again thank you for scheduling this important hearing.

Senator KERRY. Senator Cleland has joined us. I am delighted to 

welcome my friend and our colleague. 

STATEMENT OF HON. MAX CLELAND,

U.S. SENATOR FROM GEORGIA 

Senator CLELAND. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 

I would like to welcome Vice Admiral Collins before the Committee. You certainly have a distinguished record of over 34 years 

of service to our country. I am pleased to say that I look forward 

to supporting your nomination. 

There are a few issues that I would like to call to your attention 

today. First is the critical issue of port security. In Georgia we happen to have Savannah and Brunswick. I was just down in Savannah over the weekend. Both the Senate and house have passed S. 

1214, the Maritime and Port Security Act. It will provide vital asVerDate Apr 24 2002 11:26 Jul 23, 2003 Jkt 087603 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6601 S:\WPSHR\GPO\DOCS\87603.TXT SCOM2 PsN: JACKF
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sistance to our Nation’s 361 ports in upgrading their existing security system, of which the Coast Guard is an integral part. 

I might say that the Coast Guard took an integral part, I am 

sure in an official way, in monitoring the 500,000 people at the 

Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Savannah, and your presence was 

most welcome. 

I know you understand this importance as a former captain of a 

port and you understand the Coast Guard’s leadership role for all 

local, state, and federal officials involved in seaport security. 

Further, this legislation authorizes additional funding for the 

Coast Guard to carry out its port security responsibilities. I urge 

my colleagues in the House to work with the Senate in order to 

pass the conference report so that you have the resources to do 

your job. 

Second, the Coast Guard as the coordinator and leader in port 

security should work with all entities involved in the security process. I look to the people who work and experience life at the port 

every day for the most up-to-date information. They are the most 

informed. It goes without saying that a port is only as secure as 

its weakest link. I believe with better coordination and with the belief in and the feeling of open communication among all groups, 

public and private, involved in protecting the seaports, we eliminate those weak links. 

Last, the Coast Guard has duties other than port security, such 

as search and rescue, drug interdiction, and living marine resources enforcement. I urge you not to overlook these responsibilities as you work to fulfil the heightened importance of port security. These duties are also an important part of securing the homeland. 

I thank you so much for your service to our nation and may God 

watch over our men and women in uniform. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Senator KERRY. Thank you very much, Senator Cleland. 

Admiral, welcome again and we look forward to your statement. 

As I say, I do not think we need to prolong this hearing, but we 

certainly do have some areas we would love to hear your thoughts 

about. Thank you. 

STATEMENT OF VICE ADMIRAL THOMAS H. COLLINS,

COMMANDANT, U.S. COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS 

Admiral COLLINS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for your 

kind words and thank you for the kind words of the other distinguished Members of the Committee, particularly to Senator Stevens for his kind introduction and support, as he supported us 

throughout these years. 

I might note that the states of Massachusetts, Maine, Hawaii, 

Alaska, and Georgia, have just a rich history where Coast Guard 

has played a key part with the constituents in ensuring the safety 

in the coastal areas. Our 211-year history is replete with Coast 

Guard heros from Maine and Massachusetts, Alaska and Hawaii. 

So it is great to have the Senators from these states at this hearing 

this morning. 

If confirmed, of course, I am going to apply all my energies to ensure that I can live up to the expectations of the Committee. 

6

I am clearly honored by the confidence that President Bush and 

Secretary Mineta have placed in me in my nomination to be the 

twenty-second Commandant of the Coast Guard. I have a very deep 

respect for the organization that I have worked for for 34 years 

and, more importantly, a very deep respect for our men and women 

that serve the American people so well day-in and day-out. I feel 

incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to lead them in jobs 

and tasks that truly make a difference for the public and the national interest. 

I also have the great fortune to follow a great leader in Jim Loy, 

some big shoes to fill. I think he has done an incredible job as Commandant the past 4 years. He has built a solid foundation for our 

service as we launch into the twenty-first century. The fact that we 

can be so responsive and on point in the wake of 9/11 had a lot 

to do with the preparatory work that he did for our service over 

the last 3 or 4 years. I look forward to working with the President 

and Secretary Mineta and Congress to further strengthening this 

reputation of excellence that he has created. 

The Coast Guard has always been a very relevant player in the 

national security arena. Our flexibility and responsiveness as a 

military and multi-mission organization has allowed us to add 

value in every instance. It was so before 9/11. It is more so now 

in the wake of the terrorist acts. The events of last September have 

properly catapulted maritime security as a component of homeland 

security to the forefront, and it necessitates a strategic rebalancing 

of Coast Guard missions and associated resource allocation and utilization. 

Along with search and rescue, security within our ports and waterways and coastal zones must command top billing among our 

mission priorities. At the same time, we must balance our efforts 

so other missions can be performed at adequate levels, especially 

those that strengthen and push out our borders and preserve our 

scarce living marine resources. 

If confirmed, my goals would be to meet these challenges through 

a sharp focus in three central areas: readiness, stewardship, and 

people. Let me elaborate briefly on each one of these. 

Superior operational service is our core purpose, our most important product. Our nation has come to expect that from us. In the 

midst of our current crisis, we must expand our capabilities as the 

lead federal agency for maritime security. To deliver on these expectations, we must build ready forces composed of well-trained 

people equipped with modern, sustainable technology, all employing sound tactics. This is a first order priority of any military service leader. It will be mine. 

Assurance of our future readiness must be aggressively pursued 

by pushing ahead smartly with modernization efforts, such as 

Deepwater and the National Distress and Response System 

Projects. 

Building maritime domain awareness through collaborative partnerships with other governmental agencies and the private sector 

will also be key to achieving readiness success, as alluded to by the 

Senator from Georgia. 

My second area of emphasis is stewardship. We will work hard 

to further strengthen our reputation for excellence in managing our 

7

resources by instilling quality principles in all we do, by emphasizing performance-based planning and resource allocation, and by 

driving to a culture of innovation in the smart use of technology. 

We want to be accountable. We want to be accountable for delivering results. 

My most important emphasis reflects a commitment to our people. In fact, our people make the Coast Guard what it is. The ability to attract, develop, retain and deploy a quality workforce is the 

key to Coast Guard’s ability to deliver operational excellence and 

be good stewards of the public trust. This will be my top priority, 

and perhaps our greatest challenge. It will mean restructuring decades-old human resource policies and processes, ensuring compensation parity with Department of Defense services, building an 

innovative training and professional development program, and appealing to a diverse pool of candidates. 

Achieving success in the areas of readiness, stewardship, and 

people will translate directly into good outcomes for the nation. 

However, success cannot be achieved without establishment of 

sound overarching governing policy direction and wise investments 

in our service. More than ever before, national interests call for a 

vibrant, ready Coast Guard. I will seek your support, with the 

guidance of Secretary Mineta, in this regard, so that we can live 

our motto, ‘‘Semper Paratus.’’ In turn, I pledge my full energies and enthusiasm to our service, 

to its core values and characteristics, and its tradition of service to 

the public now and into the future. The interests and safety of our 

men and women will always be at the forefront. I am excited about 

the prospects. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to appear before 

you today, and I will be happy to answer any questions that you 

or Committee Members may have. 

[The prepared statement and biographical information of Vice 

Admiral Collins follow:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL THOMAS H. COLLINS

Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, and distinguished Members of the Committee. I 

am honored to appear before you today. I look forward to listening to your views 

and responding to your questions on issues facing the Coast Guard. 

President Bush and Secretary Mineta have bestowed a great honor upon me, reflected in this nomination as the 22nd Commandant of the United States Coast 

Guard. I am humbled by the nomination and grateful for their confidence in me. 

I have the deepest respect for the organization in which I have spent my thirtyfour years of service and for the professionalism and dedication of its men and 

women. My commitment is to lead and manage the Coast Guard for the next 4 

years with the overall goals of expanding our service reputation of operational excellence and strengthening our role as an integrated and productive component of the 

Department of Transportation. I look forward to working with the President, Secretary Mineta, and the Congress to this end. 

The past 6 months have brought unprecedented challenges upon us as a nation. 

I am grateful for the dynamic leadership of the President and our Secretary and 

the unified strength of the Congress in responding to the real and present dangers 

of terrorism and in preparing us for additional threats, which may yet come. Americans of all walks of life have risen with courage and determination to meet these 

new challenges, just as we always have done throughout our illustrious history. 

As a maritime nation, the United States has always depended on a strong and 

capable Coast Guard for its security and safety. Through the years, our missions 

have grown steadily in response to the needs of this great and prosperous country. 

In fact, the Coast Guard’s history reflects the story of a growing nation confronting 

one emergent maritime need after the other. During many such crises, America enVerDate Apr 24 2002 11:26 Jul 23, 2003 Jkt 087603 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6621 S:\WPSHR\GPO\DOCS\87603.TXT SCOM2 PsN: JACKF
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trusted the mission to the Coast Guard. Each time, the Coast Guard accepted the 

challenge and folded it into its inventory of multi-mission responsibilities. 

Today is no different. We must remain ready to provide maritime safety and security in a rapidly changing world. And the Coast Guard has been uniquely positioned 

to serve a wide range of maritime security, safety, environmental, mobility, and defense interests under the extraordinary leadership of Admiral Jim Loy. His focus 

on restoring readiness and shaping the future through wise operating expense and 

capital investments has been on target. 

We are poised to transform our Coast Guard capabilities, systems, and processes 

so we can meet the demands of the twenty-first century. We are confident in our 

military, multi-mission, maritime character; strengthened by our core values of 

Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty; and renewed in our sense of purpose and 

commitment to serve America. 

My leadership challenge will be to build upon this solid foundation and to provide 

the vision and direction that will be required to meet tomorrow’s challenges, especially in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. As we look forward, we 

must place our immediate focus on strengthening our capability to provide security 

to our homeland, yet do so with a careful and watchful eye on the adequate accomplishment of all of our other missions. Each of our missions is inherently connected 

to the others. The success of all depends on the excellence of each one. 

We must also build productive relationships with newly created security entities 

including the new Transportation Security Administration, the Office of Homeland 

Security, as well as evolving Department of Defense unified command organizations. 

If the Senate confirms me, my emphasis as Commandant will be focused sharply 

in three areas: (1) readiness, (2) stewardship, (3) and people. We must be Always 

Ready for the call, and will remain so by taking affirmative steps to sustain current 

and future readiness, by aggressively reinforcing our stewardship of the public trust, 

and by placing energetic emphasis on the development and well-being of Coast 

Guard people. Allow me to discuss briefly each of these three areas of emphasis. 

We must be ready in all of our mission areas, because each contributes to our Nation’s safety and security. The Coast Guard is recognized throughout the world for 

its leadership and expertise in Search and Rescue. We must exercise the same level 

of leadership and expertise as the lead federal agency for maritime security. To do 

so, we must ensure ready forces composed of well-trained people, equipped with 

modern, sustainable technology, and employing sound tactics. Our readiness initiatives will include the: • Design and implementation of an integrated command and control, communication and intelligence network for information gathering, analysis, and sharing so as 

to provide Maritime Domain Awareness to our operational commanders and other 

national stakeholders. The goal is to optimize safety and security in our ports, waterways and the coastal zone; 

• Development and maintenance of national and international strategic partnerships to bring clarity to mission planning and execution; and 

• Assurance of our future readiness by modernization or replacement of our aging 

ships, aircraft and associated command and control and sensor systems through innovative initiatives. The Integrated Deepwater System Project, the National Distress Response System Modernization Project and other elements in our Search and 

Rescue Strategic Plan represent the lead items in achieving our future readiness. 

We must continue to strengthen our stewardship of the public trust by maintaining and improving upon our enviable reputation for excellence in managing our resources. We must unleash our collective ingenuity and resourcefulness through initiatives that include: 

• Instilling quality in all we do by encouraging performance based management; 

• Inspiring a culture of innovation and the creative use of technology; and 

• Exploiting the Deepwater acquisition for emerging opportunities to revolutionize our service to the American people. 

Most importantly, we must be loyal to our people and inspire their loyalty to the 

Coast Guard. The readiness of our ships, aircraft, and systems will come to nothing 

without Coast Guard men and women who are ready, willing, and able. We must 

transform our team through initiatives that: 

• Recruit, train, and retain diverse, dynamic, and capable people; 

• Educate and encourage professional growth for every element of the active duty, 

civilian, reserve, and auxiliary components; and 

• Develop and implement modern policies for personnel, operations, and support 

systems to attain greater stability and flexibility of assignment and advancement. 

More then ever before, America’s national security interests mandate the need for 

our Nation’s maritime guardian—the Coast Guard. Much has changed since last 

September, but much remains the same: America’s vital maritime commerce must 

9

continue to flow, our fishing grounds must be protected, preventive inspections must 

be performed, our precious maritime environment must be preserved, our borders 

must be secure from illegal drugs and migrants, and the American people must be 

kept safe and secure. We must do all of this while preserving our multi-mission, 

military, and maritime character and our core values of honor, respect, and devotion 

to duty. I recognize the need and look forward to working as a member of the Department of Transportation team with the Administration and Congress in the 

years ahead so as to ensure a Semper Paratus Coast Guard, not just for the next 

4 years, but also for the next generation. 

Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I will be delighted to 

respond to any questions you might have. 

A. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

1. Name: Thomas H. Collins. 

2. Position to which nominated: Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard. 

3. Date of nomination: February 6, 2002. 

4. Address: (Information not released to the public). 

5. Date and place of birth: June 25, 1946; Quincy, MA. 

6. Marital status: Married: Constance Ann Collins (Monahan). 

7. Names and ages of children: Christine Ann Collins, 31; Kathryn Collins, 27. 

8. Education:

Institution Dates Attended Degrees Received Dates of Degrees 

USCG Academy ......................................................................... 1964–68 BS June 1968. 

Wesleyan University ................................................................. 1971–72 MALS May 1972. 

University of New Haven .......................................................... 1973–76 MBA May 1976. 

9. Employment record:

From To Name of Employer Address Type of Work 

1964 ....... 1968 USCGC Academy ......................... New London, CT ..... Undergraduate Studies. 

1968 ....... 1969 USCGC Vigilant ........................... New Bedford, MA ... Deck Watch Officer. 

1969 ....... 1971 USCGC Cape Morgan .................. Charleston, SC ....... Commanding Officer. 

1971 ....... 1972 Wesleyan University .................... Middletown, CT ...... Graduate Studies. 

1972 ....... 1976 USCG Academy ............................ New London, CT ..... Faculty Member. 

1976 ....... 1980 USCG Headquarters .................... Washington, DC ..... Office of R&D Programming/Budget. 

1980 ....... 1983 USCG Group St. Petersburg ........ St. Petersburg, FL .. Deputy Grp Commander. 

1983 ....... 1987 USCG Headquarters .................... Washington, DC ..... 1Office of Chief of Staff Programming 

Staff. 

1987 ....... 1990 USCG Grp Long Island Sound ..... New Haven, CT ...... Group Commander. 

1990 ....... 1992 USCG District 14 ......................... Honolulu, HI ........... Division Chief/Staff Officer. 

1992 ....... 1994 USCG Headquarters .................... Washington, DC ..... Office of Chief of Staff Division Chief/

G-CPA. 

6/94 ........ 10/94 USCG Headquarters .................... Washington, DC ..... Deputy Chief of Staff. 

1994 ....... 1996 USCG Headquarters .................... Washington, DC ..... Chief, Office of Acquisition. 

1996 ....... 1998 USCG District 14 ......................... Honolulu, HI ........... District Commander. 

1998 ....... 2000 USCG Pacific Area ...................... Alameda, CA .......... Area Commander. 

2000 ....... 2002 USCG Headquarters .................... Washington, DC ..... Vice Commandant. 

10. Government experience: None, other than those listed above. 

11. Business relationships: None. 

12. Memberships: U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association; Wesleyan 

Alumni Association. 

13. Political affiliations and activities: (a) List all offices with a political party 

which you have held or any public office for which you have been a candidate. None. 

(b) List all memberships and offices held in and services rendered to all political 

parties or election committees during the last 10 years. None. 

(c) Itemize all political contributions to any individual, campaign organization, political party, political action committee, or similar entity of $500 or more for the past 

10 years. None. 

10

14. Honors and awards: 2000, Distinguished Service Medal for Service, Pacific 

Area Commander; 1998, Legion of Merit for Service, Commander, 14th Coast Guard 

District; 1996, Legion of Merit for Service as Chief, Office of Acquisition; 1994, Legion of Merit for Service as Chief, Programs Division; 1992, Meritorious Service 

Medal for Service as Division Chief, 14th CG District; 1990, Meritorious Service 

Medal for Service as Group Commander, Long Island Sound; 1987, CG Commendation for Service as Staff Member, Office of Chief of Staff; 1983, CG Commendation 

for Service as Deputy Group Commander, St. Petersburg, FL; 1980, Commendation 

for Service as Staff Member, Office of R&D; 1978, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation for Service as Staff Member, Office of R&D. 

15. Published writings: ‘‘Coast Guard at the Crossroads,’’ Seapower Magazine August 2000. 

16. Speeches: Enlisted Person of the Year, CG Head Quarters, 23 June 2000; Passenger Vessel Association, Savannah, GA, 06 February 2001; Officer Candidate 

School Graduation Dinner, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT, 15 Feb 

2001; Launching of the Coast Guard Cutter Aspen, Marinette, Wisconsin, April 21, 

2001; CG Innovation Exposition, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT, 24 

Apr 2001; Coast Guard Foundation Dinner, San Francisco, California, 03 May 2001; 

National Safe Boating Campaign Celebration Washington, DC 24 May 2001. 

B. FUTURE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS

1. Do you have any plans, commitments or agreements to pursue outside employment, with or without compensation, during your service with the government? If 

so, explain. No. 

2. Do you have any plans after completing government service for employment affiliation or practice with any business firm, association, or organization which is regulated or controlled in any manner by the Coast Guard? No. 

3. Has anybody made a commitment to employ your services in any capacity after 

you leave government service? No. 

4. If confirmed, do you expect to serve your full term of office? Yes. 

C. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

1. Describe all financial arrangements, deferred compensation agreements, and 

other continuing dealings with business associates, clients or customers. None. 

2. 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. 

3. Describe any business relationship, dealing, or financial transaction which you 

have had during the last 10 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. 

4. Describe any activity during the past 10 years in which you have 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. None. 

5. Explain how you will resolve any potential conflict of interest, including any 

that may be disclosed by your responses to the above items. Please refer to the Deputy General Council Opinion Letter. 

6. Do you agree to have written opinions provided to the Committee by the designated agency ethics officer of the agency to which you are nominated and by the 

Office of Government Ethics concerning potential conflicts of interest or any legal 

impediments to your serving in this position? Yes. 

D. LEGAL MATTERS

1. Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics for unprofessional 

conduct by, or been the subject of a compliant to any court, administrative agency, 

professional association, disciplinary committee, or other professional group? If so, 

provide details. No. 

2. Have you ever been investigated, arrested, charged or held by any federal, 

state, or other law enforcement authority for violation of any federal, state, county, 

or municipal law, regulation or ordinance, other than a minor traffic offense? If so, 

provide details. No. 

3. Have you or any business of which you are or were an officer ever been involved as a party in interest in an administrative agency proceeding or civil litigation? If so, provide details. No. 

4. Have you ever been convicted (including pleas of guilty or nolo contendere) of 

any criminal violation other than a minor traffic offense? No. 

11

5. Please advise the Committee of any additional information, favorable or unfavorable, which you feel should be considered in connection with your nomination. 

None. 

E. RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMITTEE

1. Will you ensure that your department/agency complies with deadlines set by 

congressional committees for information? Yes, I will work within the scope of my 

authority to meet the requested deadline, notwithstanding delays caused by circumstances beyond my direct control. 

2. Will you ensure that your department/agency does whatever it can to protect 

congressional witnesses and whistle blowers from reprisal for their testimony and 

disclosures? Yes. 

3. Will you cooperate in providing the committee with requested witnesses, to include technical experts and career employees with firsthand knowledge of matters 

of interest to the committee? Yes, I will work to that end by cooperating to identify 

appropriate witnesses. 

4. Are you willing to appear and testify before any duly constituted committee of 

the Congress on such occasions as you maybe reasonably requested to do so? Yes.

Senator KERRY. Admiral, thank you so much. I appreciate your 

opening comments and certainly the focus of them I think is most 

appropriate. 

If I could just ask, on one level my attention was piqued by Senator Stevens, who mentioned Vigilant, and I wondered, where was 

Vigilant when you reported aboard? 

Admiral COLLINS. New Bedford, Massachusetts, sir. 

Senator KERRY. That is what I thought. That is why I knew. 

Bells went off and I said, ‘‘I know the Vigilant.’’ Admiral COLLINS. It was my very first tour as a new ensign 

graduating from the Coast Guard Academy in 1968. 

Senator KERRY. How long did you spend aboard Vigilant? 

Admiral COLLINS. A year. 

Senator KERRY. I see we shared the same duty for a period of 

time. I was also a first lieutenant for a brief period of time, and 

we could tell sea stories, I am sure. 

Admiral COLLINS. Yes, sir. First lieutenant on the Vigilant and 

spent many chilly days going through Pollidip Channel in the middle of the winter. 

Senator KERRY. Well, we will not bore the rest of the Committee. 

Let me bring us back, if I can, to where we were pre-September 

11th. On September 10th, Senator Snowe and I, and other Members of the Committee were particularly concerned, and I know as 

Vice Commandant you heard us ask these questions to the Commandant, Admiral Loy. I want to begin there. 

Already on September 10th, the Coast Guard was hard-pressed 

to perform its duties. The deep-water fleet is one of the oldest in 

the world. The ability to interdict narcotics, which is increasing because there are so many more Americans with addictions, is important; also, the increasingly difficult task of enforcing the fisheries, 

which is critical in all sectors of our oceans because of the overfishing is also paramount. The more the regulations get tough and 

try to bring the stocks back, the more important that policing ingredient becomes. 

But by his own admission, Admiral Loy made it clear to us that 

the response to September 11th required a cannibalizing of each 

and every one of those activities. There was not one activity that 

did not require a redeployment, particularly for the long-term port 

piece, though some of that has been transferred. 

12

So the question for a lot of us is, if I look at the numbers here, 

I know the President has increased the budget, but a significant 

amount of this increase is related to non-programmatic missions. 

In other words, not all of this large sum of money is going to go 

into any of the tasks that I just described. About $736 million is 

going to payment into the military retirement fund, which we all 

know is critical. That covers an unfunded liability for employee retirement benefits. I think $504 million of $1 billion sought for operating expenses is going to current retirement and other benefits 

and other pay increases and personnel entitlements, which total 

about $193 million. 

So that leaves only $303 million out of this entire increase to 

fund new initiatives and enhance the other missions. 

So the question really is, is this enough? Can you do this job? I 

know there is always a can-do attitude and I know you are going 

to have to say yes, but I would really like to examine this reality. 

Admiral COLLINS. Mr. Chairman, a great question. 

Clearly, in the wake of 9/11, we threw everything but the kitchen 

sink, including the kitchen sink, at the security issue in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. I do not think across the Nation we really 

knew what we had. I think that was the right approach. 

Since that time, we have been gradually pulling back those resources that were pulsed in to beef up that mission to create a 

greater state of normalcy relative to the other missions. Clearly, in 

the case of New England, for example, the first and second quarter 

of this year saw a rapid decline in the amount of ships devoted to 

fisheries enforcement off the Massachusetts coast and other areas 

experienced the same thing. 

Counter-drugs, fisheries enforcement, and offshore migrant interdiction were those areas where those high end resources were 

carved out. Based upon direction from Admiral Loy last fall, operational commanders were directed to start moving those resources 

back into those traditional missions that we peeled them off from. 

We expect, with the support of the 2003 budget, which we are 

very pleased with, Mr. Chairman, there is a 20 percent increase in 

our operating expense appropriation, the largest increase that we 

have seen in our recent history. There is an increase of 2200 people 

in this budget, another significant incremental increase. That compared with the 2002 supplemental that we received, which restored 

some of the cuts in the 2002 budget—if you recall, there was a 15 

percent operational reduction within the 2002 budget as it passed 

last summer. We could not even operate the assets we had to full 

capacity. 

So the supplemental restored that amount of money. It allowed 

us to pay the reserves that we called up and also provided for select new initiatives. We expect the second supplemental to come 

forward from the Administration shortly that will help to keep that 

momentum. 

So between that 2002 supplemental and 2003, we have seen 

some of the most significant incremental increases that we have 

seen in modern history. That is good news for our missions across 

the board. 

Senator KERRY. Where would most of that go, Admiral? 

13

Admiral COLLINS. About $430 million or so of the $730 million 

incremental increase in the operating expenses is going into homeland security initiatives. That is the combination of annualizations 

of 2002 supplemental into 2003 plus new initiatives in 2003, for a 

total of about $430 million. But there is search and rescue investments that is in the 2003 budget, for example, another 138 or so 

individuals being put into search and rescue stations, investments 

in small boats. Between 2002 and 2003, we will have 70 to 80 more 

small boats that will be introduced in our service because of the 

support of the 2002-2003 supplemental. 

So it is very significant investments in search and rescue. Also, 

if you include the National Distress Modernization System, there 

is a $90 million capital investment in the 2003 budget for that. 

Over $500 million for the Deepwater Project. 

So we think there is real solid investments, sir, that will start 

a multi-year ramp-up for us to deal with both our traditional missions and the homeland security missions. 

Quite frankly, we would be hard-pressed to bring aboard more 

than 2200 people in 1 year, between 2002 and 2003. We are probably maxed out in terms of execution on bringing that many 

aboard. In order to realize a net gain of 2200 people in those 2 

years, we have to attract about 4800 new people into the Coast 

Guard, considering attrition and so forth. So that is a heavy lift for 

our infrastructure to make that happen. 

So all in all, I think we are going to do well with the 2003 budget 

and the supplemental, and when we get to sort of a steady state 

as they play out, we will be within about 5 percent of those other 

missions, probably 5 or 6 percent off on meeting the traditional 

programmed hours in those other missions. 

Senator KERRY. Share with me, if you will, your thoughts about 

the attrition and personnel issue. It is my understanding that retention has become a major problem at this point. Can you speak 

to that a little bit? 

Admiral COLLINS. Sure. Manpower issues and retention are an 

issue for all the armed services. Clearly, if you talk to the CNO in 

the Navy and you ask him what his job one is, he would probably 

tell you manpower. I think it is all the services’ challenge to attract 

capable men and women and keep them in the service. 

We have seen in the last 6 months a turn-around a little bit in 

the retention, a positive turn-around up to 5 percent improvement, 

depending how you read the numbers. That is a positive thing. I 

think it is a combination of maybe the economy, No. 1; No. 2, the 

realization of the relevancy of our mission and what it contributes 

to the Nation. I think that is a very, very strong feature. I think 

people realize that we do have jobs that matter. 

Third, I think people recognize that we are an organization who 

care very much about our people. We have invested solidly in pay 

and compensation issues over the last 3 or 4 years. We are going 

to continue to do that and we are going to invest in training and 

education and professional development. We have increased our sea 

pay, for example, a tiered sea pay, a bonus system that will make 

going to sea attractive for our men and women. 

There are a lot of things that we have done, the medical benefits 

for example. I think those will all pay off. Talking to our Master 

14

Chief of the Coast Guard just the other day, he really felt that 

what is resonating with the men and women of the Coast Guard 

and the other armed services is that Congress, the Administration, 

the American people are paying attention to the needs of our 

armed forces by making pay and compensation a high priority. 

If you look at the medical benefits, if you look at the pay and the 

housing benefits that have come to pass over the last several years, 

they are making a difference. I would urge to keep the pressure on 

in that regard because I think it is resonating and it will turn some 

of these numbers around. 

As we grow up by 2200 people, it is important that we retain as 

many as we can. 

Senator KERRY. Do you sense that that is happening? I mean, I 

know you indicated a little bit of an upturn, but do you sense that 

we are doing enough or is there more you would like to see us do? 

I mean, if you had your druthers here and speaking on behalf of 

those folks now, do you think we should be approaching this differently? 

Admiral COLLINS. I think the professional development training 

is an area that we still can make some gains on and it is very relevant, professional development training is very relevant to the 

new generation of people coming in. We have just got to keep the 

pressure on there, keep improving our pay and compensation, the 

housing for example. Reducing the out-of-pocket costs for housing, 

BAH, has been a major push and that is gradually going to get better and better for our men and women. 

The medical benefits, I think, have been right on. They are tremendous. I think those are all drawing cards, Mr. Chairman. I 

think we cannot just draw a conclusion on one data point of 3 or 

4 months, but I think over time we are going to see that the attention that Congress and the Administration has paid to pay and 

compensation for our men and women and their professional development will pay off in the high quality armed forces. 

Senator KERRY. I agree with that, except that I have heard from 

some people that, notwithstanding what they sense are some good 

opportunities in that regard and may be improving, the time, the 

deployment time itself, is sort of a cruncher, and even in some of 

the boat stations on the coastline, summertime deployment, 

etcetera, there is just an on versus off ratio that is really tugging 

at some people. 

Admiral COLLINS. Yes, sir. Some of our investments in the 2002 

budget and the 2003 budget in terms of increasing the personnel 

at search and rescue stations is all about reducing that work hours 

at station. You drive it down from 80 and 70 to below 60, that is 

our goal. With the support of Congress for the 2003 budget, we will 

be able to realize that. 

One other note. You know, we are creating these Maritime Safety and Security Teams, four of them through the 2003 budget, 

teams of 70 active duty people plus additional reservists. They will 

be located at selected areas around the country to provide search 

operations for security, safety, aftermath of hurricanes, and the 

like. 

They will, in effect, be also an investment in our search and rescue stations because they ease the pressure on those search and 

15

rescue stations to provide those kind of skills. So it is another presence, a presence in our coastal waterways, that eases some of that 

OPTEMPO, PERSTEMPO pressure on our stations. We are excited 

about the prospects of those new units. 

Senator KERRY. Last year we appropriated, I think, about $290 

million for the Deepwater Asset Refurbishment and I think this 

year there is a $500 million request. Balancing that against the 

post-9/11 demands, are we out of balance here? Are we thinking in 

terms pre-September that perhaps should be changed now because 

of the demands for port security, inspection, Customs, Immigration, 

all those components? 

Admiral COLLINS. That is a frequent question that we have 

heard, Mr. Chairman. Our answer is that we think the Deepwater 

Project is right smack dead on center in the type of capability we 

need for homeland security and for other missions. I would submit 

that counter-drugs is part of homeland security, protecting our borders is part of homeland security, pushing our borders out is part 

of homeland security and a wonderful strategy for us to pursue. 

That all depends on awareness of people, cargo, and platforms. 

The Deepwater Project is a C4ISR, a command and control, information-centric procurement, a system of systems. The central feature of that is giving us sensors, communication capability, and 

interoperability, the ability to interdict, detect, surveil, classify, 

prosecute cases at sea. 

It is just the type of capabilities that we need to embed for homeland security, including counter-drug ops and others. I think it is 

right dead on center. I think it is an absolute wonderful investment 

to make in homeland security. I think if you invest in Deepwater 

you invest in homeland security. 

Senator KERRY. What do you hope to be known for as Commandant if there is sort of one overriding thing, beyond being a 

great Commandant because you come from Massachusetts? 

Admiral COLLINS. Again, I think it is captioned in those three 

areas that I have emphasized. 

Senator KERRY. Would you say that focus is different from what 

Admiral Loy——

Admiral COLLINS. I think it is a continuation and a natural extension of what he has set up. If you recall, his two broad themes 

are restoring readiness and shaping the future, with several subobjectives. Mine are very much in keeping with that. I guess it is 

because I am part of his senior leadership team to help move that 

along. 

I think if our motto is ‘‘Semper Paratus’’ and we do not have 

readiness as part of our vision, there is something wrong. Readiness, taking care of our people and being good stewards of the 

American taxpayers’ interest is what I would like to be known for. 

In keeping with that, I would like to be known that we have got 

the Deepwater Project off and running with a bang, that it is well 

situated, a strategic partnership established with the winning contractors, and that project is producing good things for us, as well 

as the National Distress and Modernization System Project that, as 

a previous group commander, I know how vital that capability is 

to the public in our coastal waters. We need to do that one right 

16

and we are going to do that one right, and we are going to address 

all those gaps that you are concerned with. 

That is going to be a wonderful system, giving us 98 percent in 

the performance standard, 98 percent chance of connectivity in 

terms of communications. We are well, well, well below that. And 

oh, by the way, that is higher than what your average police and 

fire department and for public safety operations. That is where we 

are going with this. We think it is going to be a wonderful system. 

So I would like to be known to get those two projects off and running, taking care of our people, increasing our retention, and preserving our operational excellence and readiness, sir. 

Senator KERRY. Well, I wish you well with that, Admiral. It is 

an important agenda and I am confident you are up to it. 

Senator Snowe. 

Senator SNOWE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Admiral Collins, just to follow up on the budget issue, are you 

comfortable with the billion dollar increase? Do you think it is sufficient to meet the needs of the Coast Guard? 

Admiral COLLINS. I think, Senator Snowe, along with the 

supplementals, the 2002 supplemental and the forthcoming supplemental, that we expect to be submitted shortly, it will give us that 

first year increment of a 3-year plan or so that we are developing 

to build out homeland security competence and capability while 

taking care of the rest of the mission. So I think it is on a time 

line and a scale that is just about right. 

Senator SNOWE. Well, I know that the Coast Guard is devising 

a 3-year plan for this new normalcy. What are the specifics to the 

second and third year of this 3-year plan? 

Admiral COLLINS. It is an evolving plan, as everything is in the 

wake of 9/11 because it is a new world, new realities that we are 

building to. Some of the specifics are being worked through, discussed within the Administration. I think what you can expect to 

see ultimately in a 2004 or 2005 budget as it rolls up is some of 

the very same things that appear, just a continued buildout of 

those same things that appear in 2003. 

For example, Sea Marshalls, the Sea Marshall concept to ensure 

the positive control of vessels in our waterways, which is a major 

goal of our strategic plan. Another major goal is Maritime Domain 

Awareness, that concept where we have clarity and visibility in our 

area of responsibility of people, cargo, and platforms, so that we 

can take preventative action, not consequence management action. 

Consequence management action is when really all those upstream 

things have failed. 

But significant investments in communications, secure communications, intelligence, and so forth, that is part of that MDA, or 

Maritime Domain Awareness. You can expect to see more of that. 

Maritime safety and security teams. We do not want to stop at 

six. We feel that there is additional teams that we can justify as 

part of our plan. That gives us another part of our strategic goal, 

which is presence, increased presence in our ports for deterrence 

and response capability. So that is another continuation of our 

plan. 

Also, protection of critical infrastructure and force protection for 

our own men and women, things like weapons, ammunition, chemVerDate Apr 24 2002 11:26 Jul 23, 2003 Jkt 087603 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6601 S:\WPSHR\GPO\DOCS\87603.TXT SCOM2 PsN: JACKF
17

ical, biological, and radiological detection, protection equipment. 

Those are the kind of things that you would expect to see, in addition to outreach and partnership, goal five of our strategic plan, 

with industry and with other government agencies, local agencies. 

This is an all-hands affair. That requires—as the Chairman mentioned, over 30 ports, 95,000 miles of coastline. We could never be 

big enough to do that by ourselves. 

This requires the most important features—collaboration and 

outreach, and I would submit not only domestically, but internationally. One of the reasons why Admiral Jim Loy went over to 

IMO last fall and addressed the general assembly and got a unanimous resolution to aggressively pursue internationally enhanced 

security for shipping, because part of this an international threat 

and part of the solution has to be an international solution. 

Senator SNOWE. Let’s turn to the whole modernization program, 

such as Deepwater, as well as the National Distress and Response 

System. First of all, with Deepwater, do you think there should be 

any modifications to that program as a result of September 11th? 

Admiral COLLINS. Right now, of course, we are in the pre-award 

phase, the source selection phase. The way the requirement is defined and the way the structure of the contract will be set up, if 

adjustments need to be made I think they will need to be made on 

the margin. They can be made in a post-award environment. That 

is the most prudent thing to do now. 

But I see there may be some adjustments, but adjustments on 

the margin, that the basic feature of Deepwater, which is a system 

of systems, which is information-centric, which is all about coordinating our aircraft and our surface assets so they work as a system 

and a network, is the very thing that homeland security calls for. 

So I think we are pretty much on target. There probably will be 

some marginal adjustments in the post-award environment. 

Senator SNOWE. As the Chairman mentioned about the National 

Response and Distress System, there are still existing gaps. We are 

going to be hearing testimony in subsequent panels about the Department of Transportation IG report which stated that there are 

still going to be gaps across this country. Have you given any 

thought to how we should address that? The original purpose of 

this initiative was to address and correct all the gaps in the system. Now we are modifying it because of the cost, but at the same 

time we are back to where we started in many ways. 

Admiral COLLINS. The approach, Senator, to the project is not to 

take the existing system and say these were the gaps and let us 

go plug them. What it is is taking a more blank sheet of paper and 

redrawing, reconfiguring the entire system with a brand new buildout that gives you digital capability, direction-finding capability, 

and so forth. 

It is going to be built out regionally, region by region. The first 

one will be the mid-Atlantic area. Atlantic City, Group Atlantic 

City, for example, will be one of the early initial operating capabilities. Each one of those areas, the industry will come in, the winning contractor will come in and do a detailed survey of that area, 

and then look at where he has to site towers and so forth to ensure 

he meets the performance requirement of the contract. 

18

The performance requirement of the contract calls for 98 percent 

probability of communications. That is way more than the mid1980s that we have now with the current system. So I think that 

we have to wait for surveys, region by region surveys that will say. 

The contractor is going to have to meet those minimum performance standards region by region by region as it is built out. 

The way it is being built out, there is one region built on and 

then the next adjacent region is built out, so we build off the tower 

structure of one region against the other region to the other region. 

So it is a very disciplined, I think well thought out approach. We 

do not want gaps in our system. We want 98 percent connectivity, 

and I think that is what we are going to get when this gets awarded. 

Senator SNOWE. I certainly hope that you work with this Committee on that issue, because I think we have to make sure that 

we provide the kind of communications coverage that is essential. 

That initially was the primary goal for this program. I think we 

want to work with you to make sure that we stay on track with 

that program. We will be hearing later about the report. We hear 

perhaps we will follow up with you on this later. 

Go ahead. 

Admiral COLLINS. I would be glad to provide a brief to your staff, 

you or your staff, on the details of that as you desire, Senator. 

Senator SNOWE. Thank you. 

Finally, on the issue of small boat station readiness. This is another area which I really do think we have to address in terms of 

the operations tempo. I know I have talked to my station in 

Eastport, and I know the demands that have been placed on them 

and the long hours. That is also true for most of these stations 

around the country. 

How do you propose to addressing this issue for the future? It is 

clearly a deficiency. It needs to be addressed and we have to rectify 

it, because it is a matter of safety and providing for the safety on 

our coastal waterways. I do know the OPTEMPO rates are obviously very high and so we need to take corrective action on that 

score for the future. 

Admiral COLLINS. Yes, Senator, clearly whatever shortfalls we 

had at the stations were exacerbated by 9/11 and the OPTEMPO 

that we push ourselves toward to meet the security needs of our 

ports and waterways. I think the 2002 and 2003 game plan and 

along with out years for search and rescue meets many of the previously discussed issues associated with our search and rescue stations, whether that be boat readiness or whether it be amount of 

people and so forth. 

The 2002 budget provided close to 200 people, additional people 

for our search and rescue stations. The 2003 budget provides 138 

people additional to be distributed to our search and rescue stations. In addition, there is another increment of, I think, about 30 

or so, if I have got the numbers right, for our groups, the command 

centers, our Coast Guard groups. So there is a fairly significant investment. 

In addition, I will state again, those maritime safety and security 

teams, those new units that we are creating six through the 2003 

19

budget, that is 498 people going into those teams around the country. Those teams, what do they provide? 

Senator KERRY. Are they new people or are they coming out of 

the existing personnel pool? 

Admiral COLLINS. New people, Senator. 

Senator KERRY. Brand new people? 

Admiral COLLINS. Yes, sir. They are part of the 2200 person plusup. 498 of those are maritime safety and security teams. They represent boatswain mates, MKs, and the like that are going to be operating boats in coastal areas. Those will significantly reduce the 

OPTEMPO pressures on those stations. 

So a combination of the plus-up in the SAR station plus the maritime safety and security team will move us a long way along solving some of those OPTEMPO, PERSTEMPO problems, Senator 

that you mentioned. 

Senator SNOWE. Thank you, Admiral. We appreciate it and we 

know that you are going to provide remarkable leadership in the 

future, and it is certainly indicative of the kind of career that you 

already have amassed. So we appreciate it. Thank you. 

Admiral COLLINS. Thank you. 

Senator KERRY. Thank you, Senator Snowe. 

If I could just follow up on that for a moment. Notwithstanding 

the increases, the increases are going to an increased set of responsibilities; is that correct? In other words, the increases you have 

just talked about, the new personnel, the 2200, are being divided 

and 400-plus some are going directly into the special security. But 

others are going to be going into port security and these other security demands, correct? 

My problem is that all of these new demands have arisen postLabor Day. This is in the off season in terms of station demand. 

What happens to you getting into May and proceeding forward in 

the next months on that station demand, plus the new responsibilities, when already prior to September 11th you did not have 

enough people to do everything we were asking you to do? 

Admiral COLLINS. 138 of the 2200, are brand new, going into 

SAR stations. An additional increment is going in to provide the 

fourth crew member for our new 47-foot MLB. So part of that 2200 

people are going into search and rescue stations. Of course, the 

bulk, as you pointed out—— Senator KERRY. How many stations do we have nationally? 

Admiral COLLINS. Over 200, about 220 stations, Senator. 

Senator KERRY. So you are talking 138 people for 200 and some 

stations. 

Admiral COLLINS. Of course, they are not going to be distributed 

across the board, station by station. 

Senator KERRY. Right, station for station, I understand that. 

Admiral COLLINS. They will be put into those with the highest 

requirement. It is the second increment of the investment. There 

was the 200 additional search and rescue personnel last year as 

well. 

Senator KERRY. Well, obviously the Committee is very interested 

in this and concerned. We do not have to belabor it now, but I 

think you can tell that we are here for you. There is no political 

axe to grind here whatsoever. This Committee is completely biparVerDate Apr 24 2002 11:26 Jul 23, 2003 Jkt 087603 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6601 S:\WPSHR\GPO\DOCS\87603.TXT SCOM2 PsN: JACKF
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tisan to making sure that the Coast Guard has the resources it 

needs. I think we have been, frankly, one of the loudest and most 

persistent voices on a bipartisan basis over the years for what we 

think has been an underfunding of your important agency. 

So we hope you are going to be frank with us as we go forward 

here, because these responsibilities are critical. Senator Snowe and 

I feel very deeply about the inadequacy of the monitoring of the 

fisheries. It is just inadequate, and we are going from 88 days 

maybe down to 22, depending on what happens here in New England in the groundfish fishery. The havoc that is going to create 

among our fisherpeople and the pressures it is going to create, 

frankly, for people that go look outside of those parameters. And 

if you have not got enforcement, we are all cooked. 

This is an ecosystem resource. This is not something that you 

can buy your way back into. If we do not have sufficient enforcement mechanism, we are not going to make those stock goals. 

Likewise on narcotics and these other issues. These are all equal 

kinds of competing factors. So it is really crunch time and I think 

9/11 sort of woke people up to the extraordinary demands and the 

number of waterway, port security issues that we face. 

Maybe all of it does not have to fall on your agency and, needless 

to say, a lot of it will not as we sort of hone this, though it would 

be helpful for us to hear from the person in charge of it so we could 

begin to understand exactly how those demands are being divided, 

which is another issue, not for us here at this moment. 

So we are going to work with you and hope you will work with us as we try to figure out what is necessary. We have got $37 billion that is going into homeland security. Homeland security has 

a lot of definitions. I think homeland security is our narcotics effort 

and I think homeland security is also our protection of our ecosystem. But the nefarious networks that use the narcotics trafficking channels are the very same people what also provide illegal 

passports, illegal visas, money accounts that are hidden, who play 

to the proliferation issues, and so forth. 

So your ability to perform that function in my judgment is at the 

front line of any homeland security effort, and we need to make 

certain that that $37 billion is enough to do some of the other 

things we may choose to do. We have got to really think very hard 

about that. 

A couple of just quick pro forma questions, if I may. Is there any 

conflict that the Committee should be aware of that might in any 

way affect the performance of your responsibilities as Commandant? 

Admiral COLLINS. No, Mr. Chairman. 

Senator KERRY. Do you agree to appear before the Committee at 

such time as the Committee duly sends you appropriate request to 

do so in the course of your tenure? 

Admiral COLLINS. Yes, sir, with pleasure. 

Senator KERRY. And those people who serve with you, should 

that be necessary? 

Admiral COLLINS. Yes, sir. 

Senator KERRY. We thank you for that. 

Assuming we can move your nomination very rapidly, and we are 

going to try and do that—we will hold a Committee meeting off the 

21

floor of the Senate, hopefully, to be able to move it to the floor rapidly. Assuming we are able to confirm you this week, when would 

this change of command take place under those circumstances? 

Admiral COLLINS. It is scheduled for the 30th of May, Mr. Chairman. 

Senator KERRY. Fine. 

Admiral COLLINS. Yes, sir. 

Senator KERRY. Well, Admiral, we wish you all the best. We 

thank you very much for the job you have done as a prelude to this 

enormously important job you are about to do. We really do look 

forward to working with you. We hope you will feel the Committee 

is available to you to be as cooperative and as thoughtful as possible as we try to resolve these important issues for our country. 

We wish you well. 

Admiral COLLINS. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. It has 

been a pleasure to appear before you today and I do look forward 

to working very closely with the Committee. 

Senator KERRY. Well, good luck to you. Thank you. 

Admiral COLLINS. Thank you. 

[Whereupon, at 3:29 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.] 

APPENDIX

PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN

I am pleased to offer my support on behalf of Vice Admiral Thomas H. Collins, 

who has been nominated by President Bush to be the 22nd Commandant of the 

United States Coast Guard. 

Admiral Collins is well qualified for the post of Commandant. He currently serves 

as the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard, at the side of the Commandant, Admiral Loy. Admiral Collins is a highly decorated officer with a long and distinguished 

career in the Coast Guard. He has served in a variety of assignments throughout 

his exemplary career which include: Pacific Area Commander, 14th District Commander, command of a cutter, commander of a Group, and Captain of the Port. 

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the Coast Guard faces a 

critical point in its history. The challenge facing the Service is to take on this significant homeland security mission while at the same time providing the same level 

of service the American people have come to expect from the Coast Guard across 

a large spectrum of missions. 

Even before September 11th, the Coast Guard faced enormous challenges in overcoming chronic readiness issues ranging from an antiquated deepwater fleet, readiness problems in the search and rescue program, and retention problems with experienced personnel leaving the service. Readiness is clearly a concern to all of the 

military services and the Coast Guard should be funded at a level which allows the 

men and women who proudly serve this country to do so with the right resources. 

We need to ensure the Coast Guard has the resources to carry out its enhanced 

homeland security posture and conduct its traditional missions at their pre-September 11th level. 

The Coast Guard is the first line of defense in our war on drugs—they are the 

lead maritime federal agency for drug interdiction efforts. 95 percent of the drugs 

smuggled into our country travel over the water, so the Coast Guard should be well 

equipped to stop these drugs from reaching our schools and streets. 

The Coast Guard also performs a wide range of duties—high profile search and 

rescue efforts, saving the lives of sailors in trouble, keeping our waterways safe for 

commercial trade and recreation, cleaning up oil spills and other environmental hazards, and enforcing important immigration and environmental laws. 

I strongly support Admiral Collins’ nomination and believe we should quickly confirm him.

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