U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Public Affairs

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 18 August 2008

Contact: Aux. Robert Westcott
Chief- Internal Communications
Public Affairs Department
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
robwestcott@earthlink.net
http://www.auxpa.org
(386) 717-8437

Coast Guard Commandant Coming to Orlando - Media Availability

The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard and least three other senior Coast Guard Admirals are scheduled to meet with the national leadership team of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at the Rosen Center in Orlando, Florida during the Auxiliary National Conference (NACON), the week of August 18th through the 24th. Admiral Allen, Coast Guard Commandant is planned to be in Orlando on Saturday August 23rd  where he will also address the Auxiliary leadership. There is also a planned media availability with the Commandant at 4:30 p.m. for about 30 minutes.

Admiral Allen is known for his leadership in times of crises and his tremendous ability to effect change in an ever-changing world.  Nowhere was this more evident than in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, when he served as the Principal Federal Official for response and recovery operations, while also serving as the Coast Guard Chief of Staff. Following the terrorist attacks of  September 11, 2001, he was responsible for leading Coast Guard forces as Commander of the Atlantic Area and U.S. Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component of  the Coast Guard, with over 30,000 members the Auxiliary donates millions of hours of service each year augmenting Active Duty and Reserve Coast Guard units in fulfillment the Coast Guard Missions. Auxiliary members, are authorized by law to engage in any Coast Guard mission except direct law enforcement and military action.

This year at NACON it is expected that there will be an emphasis on promoting America’s Waterway Watch – a waterway neighborhood crime watch program that if embraced by America’s boaters could substantially reduce the terrorist threat to bridges, waterways, power and water facilities and other critical infrastructure on and around America's waterways. There will also be a planned life jacket demonstration showing how life jackets can make a life-saving difference. The demonstration is planned for noon on August 23rd at the Rosen Center pool. Each year hundreds of Americans die needlessly while boating. Statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating reveal that most of those death could have been prevent just by wearing a life jacket.

Media is invited to attend the NACON General Session, including the planned availability with the Commandant and the life jacket demonstration. Press kits, including CDs with speaker backgrounds, high resolution photographs and planned video clips will be available in the press room. Auxiliary Public Affairs staff will be on hand to assist attending media. Interested media are asked to call contact Robert Westcott, Chief of Internal Communications, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at (386) 717-8437 or email at robwestcott@earthlink.net 

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