Regional Responsibilities
The Coast Guard is divided into two Areas, the Atlantic and the Pacific, each of which is commanded by a vice admiral, with each being designated Maritime Homeland Defense Areas. This includes various districts.
The Atlantic Area includes five Districts covering the Eastern United States, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. Its headquarters is located in Portsmouth, Virginia. This Area is commanded by Vice Admiral Robert C. Parker, Commander, Atlantic Area/Commander, Defense Force East.
The Pacific Area includes four Districts covering the Western United States and the Pacific Ocean. Its headquarters is located at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California. This Area is commanded by Vice Admiral Manson Brown, Commander, Pacific Area/Commander, Defense Force West.
The Coast Guard is further organized into Districts, commanded by a District Commander, a one- or two-star rear admiral, with each responsible for a portion of the Nation's coastline.
There are two major activities located outside the United States:
- USCG Activities Far East (FEACT) is located at Yokota Air Base, Japan. FEACT inspects ships bound for U.S. ports for Port Control and safety reasons. The current commander is Captain Gerald M. Swanson, who assumed command on July 22, 2007.
- USCG Activities Europe (ACTEUR) is located in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The current commander is Captain John W. Koster.
| District | Region | District Office | Area of Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| First District | Atlantic | Boston, Massachusetts | New England states, eastern New York, and northern New Jersey |
| Fifth District | Atlantic | Portsmouth, Virginia | Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina |
| Seventh District | Atlantic | Miami, Florida | South Carolina, Georgia, eastern Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Eighth District | Atlantic | New Orleans, Louisiana | Inland waters of the U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico |
| Ninth District | Atlantic | Cleveland, Ohio | Great Lakes |
| Eleventh District | Pacific | Alameda, California | California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah |
| Thirteenth District | Pacific | Seattle, Washington | Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana |
| Fourteenth District | Pacific | Honolulu, Hawaii | Hawaii and Pacific territories |
| Seventeenth District | Pacific | Juneau, Alaska | Alaska |
Read more about this topic: Organization Of The United States Coast Guard