Posted on 05/27/2010 2:02:35 PM PDT by NoLibZone
It's been a big week for Coast Guard Cmdr. Thad Allen, who is in charge of overseeing the federal response to the BP oil leak. This morning, he announced that BP's "top kill" is working, halting the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico since last month's Deepwater Horizon explosion.
But earlier in the week, with far less media attention, Allen, 61, stepped down from his position as Commandant of the Coast Guard, the highest position in that branch of the military. He had plans to retire soon after being relieved of command, but was instead tapped to run the Obama administration's response to the environmental crisis instead.
And with good reason. Allen has played a major part in many of the nation's recent crises from September 11th to Hurricane Katrina. After Michael Brown was removed as head of FEMA, Allen ran the government's response team.
"He performed magnificently in a crisis," said Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to USA Today. "Nobody could have done it better."
Though he describes himself as an "unlikely admiral," Allen has spent 39 years in the Coast Guard. After graduating from the Coast Guard Academy in 1971, he earned Master's degrees from M.I.T. and George Washington University.
(Excerpt) Read more at politicsdaily.com ...
Allen assumed the duties of the 23rd Commandant of the Coast Guard on May 25, 2006. He was appointed to a four-year term by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate.
Allen was born in Tucson, Arizona, the son of retired Coast Guard Chief Damage Controlman Clyde and Mrs. Wilma Allen. His father is a World War Two veteran. Allen is a 1967 graduate of Palo Verde High School in Tucson. His family moved frequently during his childhood with his father’s assignments. He attended the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, where he was a standout football player, graduating in 1971.[1] He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from George Washington University and a Master’s degree in Management (S.M.) from the MIT Sloan School of Management as a Sloan Fellow.[2]
I know, I know .. his name is Thad, not Thag ... but this is funny stuff.
Is this man from Arizona???? All I see is AZ but nothing on it. If he is indeed from ARIZONA and a BUSH APPOINTEE...IT SHOULD BE OUT THERE LOUD AND CLEAR!!!!
Reading between the lines coming out of the WH and Obama’s presser today, Obama is setting Mr. Allen up to be the next fall guy thrown under the bus for any and everything that goes wrong from here on out. Thad should be watching his back at every turn.
Tonk Memorial CG bump
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thad_Allen
Born in Tucson and attended HS there.
Bush appointed him in ‘06
Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Just want it known then that he was a native of Arizona born and raised and....a Bush appointee as well. Thank you!!!
A message from the new Commandant
Bob
>R 261800Z MAY 10
>FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CCG//
>TO ALCOAST
>BT
>UNCLAS //N16010//
>ALCOAST 271/10
>COMDTNOTE 16010
>SUBJ: SHIPMATES 2: MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES
>A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 251853Z MAY 10/ALCOAST 265/10
>1. SHIPMATES, THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO PROVIDE YOU
>FURTHER DETAIL ON THE FOUR PRINCIPLES THAT WILL GUIDE MY
>WATCH AS COMMANDANT. THESE PRINCIPLES, AS SET FORTH IN MY
>VISION STATEMENT IN REF A, ARE STEADY THE SERVICE, HONOR OUR
>PROFESSION, STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND RESPECT OUR
>SHIPMATES.
>2. FIRST, I WANT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BACKGROUND WHICH
>INFORMS MY FOUR PRINCIPLES. DURING THE PAST NINE YEARS, WE
>HAVE HEROICALLY RESPONDED TO THE TRAGIC 9/11 TERRORIST
>ATTACKS, HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA AND A DEVASTATING
>EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI AND WE ARE CURRENTLY RESPONDING TO THE
>DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO CARRY OUT
>OUR MANY AND EVER-EXPANDING DUTIES. THIS HIGH OP-TEMPO PUT
>OUR SERVICE IN THE PUBLIC LIGHT LIKE NEVER BEFORE. IT ALSO
>PROVIDED SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS LEARNED. WE REALIZED WE
>NEEDED TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, IMPROVE OUR MISSION
>SUPPORT DELIVERY INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECAPITALIZE OUR AGING
>ASSETS. THESE SPAWNED INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE SECTOR CONCEPT,
>MODERNIZATION AND UNDERTAKING THE LARGEST ACQUISITION
>PROJECTS WE HAVE EVER ATTEMPTED. WHILE THESE WERE
>UNQUESTIONABLY THE RIGHT INITIATIVES TO MAKE THE COAST
>GUARD MORE CAPABLE, MORE EFFICIENT AND STRONGER, THEY ALSO
>PRODUCED A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE. LOOKING FORWARD,
>I SEE A NEED TO BRING THE SECTOR AND MODERNIZATION INITIATIVES
>TO CLOSURE, SO THAT OUR PEOPLE AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE CHAIN OF
>COMMAND CAN REFOCUS ON THEIR MISSIONS. MY DESIRED END
>STATE IS TO PUT IN PLACE AN ORGANIZATION THAT EVERYONE
>UNDERSTANDS. OUR PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHO THEY WORK FOR,
>WHAT THEIR AUTHORITIES ARE AND WHO TO CALL TO GET THE TOOLS
>THEY NEED TO GET THEIR JOB DONE.
>3. MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES DEFINED
> A. STEADY THE SERVICE - I AM COMMITTED TO FOCUSING ON
>OUR CORE ROLES AND MISSIONS AS DEFINED IN PUB ONE. TO REDUCE
>STRESS ON OUR SERVICE AND MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
>READINESS WE MUST EMPHASIZE OUR STATUTORY MISSIONS, FINISH
>ORGANIZATIONAL REALIGNMENT AND PRIORITIZE DEMANDS FOR OUR
>SERVICES WITHIN THE BUDGET. WE MUST CONTINUE TO PURSUE
>REPLACEMENT ASSETS FOR THE FUTURE. WE MUST RETURNTO A
>SUSTAINABLE STATE.
> B. HONOR OUR PROFESSION - I AM COMMITTED TO
>PROFESSIONAL SERVICE BY DEMONSTRATING THE HIGHEST
>COMPETENCE IN EXECUTION AND SUPPORT OF OUR VARIED MISSIONS.
>AT ALL TIMES, WE ARE A MILITARY ORGANIZATION GUIDED BY
>RESPONSIBILITY, AUTHORITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. MISSION
>EXCELLENCE IS OUR NORTH STAR. HONORING OUR PROFESSION
>REQUIRES INSPIRED LEADERSHIP TO DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS,
>PRIDE AND EXPERIENCE, IN A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT, BUILT FROM
>A FOUNDATION OF CLEAR DOCTRINE AND TRAINING. I WILL NOT ASK
>YOU TO DO MORE THAN OUR RESOURCES ALLOW, BUT WE MUST DO
>OUR ABSOLUTE BEST WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
> C. STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS - I AM COMMITTED TO
>PARTNERSHIPS. THEY ARE A FORCE MULTIPLIER. AS DEMAND FOR OUR
>SERVICE CONTINUES TO EXPAND, AND THE THREATS IN THE MARITIME
>ENVIRONMENT INCREASE IN COMPLEXITY, A UNILATERAL APPROACH
>WILL NOT BE THE BEST OR THE MOST EFFICIENT MEANS TO ACHIEVE
>MISSION SUCCESS. WE CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND PROVIDE
>GREATER VALUE TO OUR COUNTRY WHEN WE FORGE PARTNERSHIPS
>WITH LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, TRIBAL AND INTERNATIONAL
>AGENCIES. FOR THE SAME REASONS, STRENGTHENING APPROPRIATE
>RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY IS IMPERATIVE.
>ULTIMATELY, STRONG PARTNERSHIPS ARE CRITICAL TO ENHANCING
>OUR CAPABILITY, EFFECTIVENESS AND CREDIBILITY IN THE MARITIME
>DOMAIN.
> D. RESPECT OUR SHIPMATES - I AM COMMITTED TO A CLIMATE
>OF CARE AND CONCERN FOR SHIPMATES, ACTIVE, RESERVE, CIVILIAN,
>AUXILIARY, FAMILIES, AND RETIREES, ON A DAILY BASIS. OUR PEOPLE
>ARE THE COASTGUARDS GREATEST ASSET AND OUR ABILITY TO
>PERFORM OUR MISSION ULTIMATELY DEPENDS ON YOUR HEALTH,
>VIBRANCY, TRAINING AND CAPABILITIES. WE MUST PROVIDE THE BEST
>IN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT,
>WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHILE
>MAINTAINING A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE WORK
>ENVIRONMENT. OUR SERVICE MUST ALSO DRAW STRENGTH FROM THE
>DIVERSITY OF OUR NATION. I WANT THE COAST GUARD TO BE
>RECOGNIZED AS THE PROFESSION OF CHOICE FOR AMERICANS OF ALL
>BACKGROUNDS.
>4. YOUR DAILY HARD WORK AND DEDICATION ENSURES THAT OUR
>NATIONS WATERS ARE SAFE AND SECURE. MY PRINCIPLES ARE
>INTENDED TO ENABLE AND SUSTAIN THESE EFFORTS.
>5. RELEASED BY ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT.
>6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
>BT
Does he revert in rank to Rear Admiral (RADM) now that he’s no longer serving as Commandant? I think that’s the way it works in the other armed services... certain postions come with a temporary 3- or 4-star rank. I don’t know if the Coasties work the same way.
Obama’s $10 Billion loan to Soros’ Petrobras to fund ULTRA-deep water drilling, 7,000-9,000 feet down of Brasilian Coast.
http://stumpedagain.wordpress.com/obamas-deep-drilling/
WHY is NOBODY talking about this????????
No, he remains a full Admiral.
Thanks. I figure that either way his retirement rank is that of a full admiral.
Thank you for pointing out why Obama sat and waited on responding to the BP spill.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2522642/posts?page=3
Way to go Adm. Allen.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...
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