United States Coast Guard Sectors

A Sector is a shore-based operational unit of the United States Coast Guard. Each Sector is responsible for the execution of all Coast Guard missions within its Area of Responsibility (AOR) with operational support from Coast Guard Cutters and Air Stations. Sub-units of a Sector include Stations and Aids to Navigation Teams. Some Sectors also have sub-units such as Sector Field Offices and Marine Safety Units that are responsible for mission execution in part of the Sector's AOR. There are 35 sectors in nine districts and two areas.

History
Sectors replaced Coast Guard Groups, Marine Safety Offices (MSO), Activities, and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS). Previously, a Group and its units provided Search and Rescue (SAR), maritime law enforcement, recreational boating safety, and maintained aids to navigation. MSOs enforced federal laws and regulations related to the safety and security of vessels, port facilities, and the marine environment, and assisted other law enforcement agencies. The new Sector organizations are based on the Activities prototype commands established in 1996 in New York and Baltimore, and later, San Diego. The Activities units were praised for their particular efficiency and unity of effort in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

Before 2004, field operations in a single port fell under multiple, mission-based commands (Group, MSO, and VTS) that were physically dispersed, had unique chains of command and different program managers at Coast Guard Headquarters, lacked a consistent voice to the public, and had some mission overlap. The attacks of September 11 called for a new Coast Guard unity of effort that was cumbersome to achieve using the previous multiple command port-level structure. The Coast Guard’s move from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Homeland Security and implementation of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) provided further impetus to restructure.

In 2003, the Coast Guard began to consolidate field activities for its Commercial Vessel Safety, Port and Environmental Safety, Marine Environmental Response, Port Security, Waterways Management, Bridge Administration, Search and Rescue (SAR), Recreational Boating Safety missions under one local Sector Command. The organizational change to Sectors eliminated the historical segregation of prevention and response activities at the local level and created a comprehensive unit that brings together field activities, authorities, and resources to provide the most effective organization and the best value to the public.

The Sector Command combines responsibilities and authorities previously shared by two or more commands into a single operational unit with a command and senior staff of highly competent experts.

The Coast Guard Sector provides for rapid, coordinated response to emergencies, whether natural (such as Hurricane Katrina) or man-made, along with integrated daily operations to enforce regulations governing marine safety, security, and environmental protection. In addition, it provides an immediate safety and security assessment at the onset of any maritime event, disaster, or casualty affords critical synergy to operations essential to marine safety, security, and environmental protection.

Coast Guard Sectors serve as one-stop-shops for marine safety, security, and environmental protection for major seaports and regions. They bring multi-mission capabilities to life on the front lines of the maritime environment, where Sector Commanders are actually allocated some authority equal to District Commanders.

Organization
The Sector organizational construct represents a transformation from a Coast Guard traditionally organized around its operational programs to one organized around core operational service delivery processes. It focuses the coordinated efforts of all assigned operational capabilities to accomplish Coast Guard mission objectives.

Sector Commander
The commanding officer of a Sector is called the Sector Commander and is usually the rank of Captain (O-6). The Sector Commander holds the positions of Captain of the Port (COTP) and Federal Maritime Security Coordinator (FMSC). Unless otherwise assigned, the Sector Commander is also the Officer in Charge Marine Inspections (OCMI), Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator (SMC), and Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC). The Sector Commander reports to the appropriate District Commander.

Command Staff
The Sector Commander's second-in-command is the Deputy Sector Commander. Also reporting directly to the Sector Commander are the Command Master Chief (CMC), the Senior Reserve Officer, and the Sector's Auxiliary Coordinator.

Command Center
The Sector Command Center (SCC) is the center of Sector Operations. It provides 24-hour command, control, coordination, communications, intelligence, sensor analysis, and data mining (C4ISM). The SCC displays the current Common Operating Picture (COP) and Common Intelligence Picture (CIP), including a presentation of all vessels, aircraft, communications equipment, and personnel belonging to the Coast Guard and supporting agencies. During a major marine event (e.g., OpSail or the Super Bowl) it supports the Prevention Department. During a security or search and rescue incident, it focuses on assisting the Response Department. The SCC coordinates with other federal, state, and local operations centers, and issues Notices to Mariners, Situation Reports, and maritime security alerts. In the nine ports where the Coast Guard operates VTS, the Vessel Traffic Center will be located with the SCC. Responsibility for VTS operations resides in the Waterways Management Division of Prevention. A branch chief oversees the SCC. Officers serving as SCC branch chief will acquire the skills necessary to eventually serve as one of the three Department Heads.

Contingency Planning and Force Preparedness
The Contingency Planning and Force Readiness Staff develops and maintains plans covering readiness, logistics, and emergency preparedness. It coordinates with the three departments in plan development and execution, and plans and executes readiness exercises to test contingency plans. The Contingency branch also monitors the training and readiness of Sector Reserve Forces and manages their mobilization and demobilization.

Intel
The Intelligence Staff is envisioned to collect, evaluate, report, and disseminate operational intelligence within the Sector. This staff will serve as the primary intelligence support element for all operations within the Sector. This staff forwards its analysis of raw intelligence reports to the District and the Atlantic or Pacific Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center, and will be the critical link between the Sector Commander and the entire Coast Guard intelligence enterprise, which is in turn a part of the United States Intelligence Community. 

Response
The Response Department addresses SAR, pollution, and all hazards via its Incident Management Division. Enforcement Division enforces all laws and treaties and carries out PWCS enforcement activities, such as armed boardings, vessel escorts and security zone enforcement. This division works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement and sister agencies within the DHS to respond to and mitigate the impact of maritime threats.

Prevention
The Prevention Department consists of three divisions. Inspections Division manages and oversees the regulatory and inspection aspects of the Coast Guard’s safety, security, and environmental protection responsibilities for vessels and facilities. Waterways Management Division controls aids to navigation; safety and security zones; Regulated Navigation Areas; ice breaking; and VTS and AIS. Investigations Division initiates inquiries into marine casualties, pollution, boating violations, and assessment of civil penalties.

Logistics
The Logistics Department performs unit level maintenance and organic engineering, personnel, medical support, and finance/supply functions for the entire Sector. Engineering/Support Division administers electronics and computer system, naval, aviation, vehicle, and facilities engineering; armory and small arms qualification; and environmental compliance. The associated Integrated Support Command or Aircraft Repair and Supply Center handle intermediate and depot level maintenance. Medical, training, housing, and educational services reside in the Administrative/Personnel Division. Finance/Supply Division encompasses galley, transportation, and property and inventory management.

District One


Region includes the Atlantic areas of the northeast United States.


 * Sector Northern New England
 * Sector Boston
 * Sector Southeastern New England (Woods Hole, MA)
 * Sector Long Island
 * Sector New York

The district office is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The District Commander is Rear Admiral Timothy S. Sullivan. Its website is http://www.uscg.mil/d1/.

District Five


Region includes the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, including Chesapeake Bay.


 * Sector Delaware Bay
 * Sector Baltimore
 * Sector Hampton Roads
 * Sector North Carolina

The district office is located in Portsmouth, Virginia. The District Commander is Rear Admiral Fred M. Rosa, Jr... Its website is http://www.uscg.mil/d5/.

District Seven


Region includes the Southeastern United States and U.S. parts of the Caribbean Sea.


 * Sector Charleston
 * Sector Jacksonville
 * Sector Miami
 * Sector Key West
 * Sector St. Petersburg
 * Sector San Juan

The district office is located in Miami, Florida. The District Commander is Rear Admiral David W. Kunkel. Its website is http://www.uscg.mil/d7/.

District Eight
Region includes most of the Gulf of Mexico coast of the United States and the inland rivers (Mississippi River, Ohio River, etc).


 * Sector Ohio Valley
 * Sector Upper Mississippi
 * Sector Lower Mississippi
 * Sector Mobile
 * Sector New Orleans
 * Sector Houston-Galveston
 * Sector Corpus Christi

The district office is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Its website is http://www.uscg.mil/d8/.

District Nine
Covers U.S. areas of the Great Lakes region.


 * Sector Buffalo
 * Sector Detroit
 * Sector Lake Michigan
 * Sector Sault Ste Marie

The district office is located in Cleveland, Ohio. The District Commander is Rear Admiral John E. Crowley. Its website is http://www.uscg.mil/d9/.

District Eleven
Region includes the Southwestern United States.


 * Sector San Francisco
 * Sector Los Angeles - Long Beach
 * Sector San Diego

The district office is located on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California. The District Commander is Rear Admiral Jody A. Breckenridge. Its website is http://www.uscg.mil/d11/.

District Thirteen


Region includes the Northwestern United States.


 * Sector Seattle
 * Sector Portland

The district office is located in Seattle, Washington. The District Commander is Rear Admiral John P. Currier. Its website is http://www.uscg.mil/d13/.

District Fourteen


Region includes U.S. parts of the Pacific Ocean. The District's Search and Rescue area of responsibility covers an area more than two and a half times larger than the continental United States.


 * Sector Honolulu
 * Sector Guam

The district office is located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The District Commander is Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O'Hara. Its website is http://www.uscg.mil/d14/.

District Seventeen
Region includes the land and sea in and around Alaska.


 * Sector Anchorage
 * Sector Juneau

The district office is located in Juneau, Alaska. The District Commander, also Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander, Alaska, is Rear Admiral Arthur E. Brooks. Its website is http://www.uscg.mil/d17/.