Page 62: of Marine News Magazine (August 2019)

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MN100

ADMIRAL

KARL SCHULTZ:

Commandant,

United States

Coast Guard

The career biography of Admiral Schultz is predictably said Admiral Schultz. “We’ve never been building ? ve impressive for an of? cer that has ascended to the top of classes of cutters (simultaneously) in my 36 years here; the United States Coast Guard. Admiral Schultz hit the it’s a banner time and we have to keep the capital funding ground running and has been on a mission since day one stable and predictable.” to not only stress the importance of the maritime industry The Commandant is clearly passionate about all mat- as a whole, but to inextricably link the U.S. maritime in- ters maritime, and he realizes too that tomorrow’s Coast dustry – inland, Great Lakes and coastal – to the current Guard must be in-step with the world at-large in terms of and future success of the U.S. economy. He is a tireless technology, as an ef? ciency measure but also to hold serve advocate to ensure that Coast Guard budgets as well as in the fast-evolving realm of cyber security.

maritime infrastructure needs are kept ? rmly entrenched “We can’t be 10 years behind general society in terms in the ‘vital infrastructure’ discussion. of technology,” Admiral Schultz told MarineNews. “We’re “I think it’s important to have the conversation that building out our cyber capability at the Coast Guard. I links $5.4 trillion in annual commerce to the marine in- have about 300 positions today on cyber at the Coast dustry,” Admiral Schultz shared with MarineNews during Guard, and the 2020 budget has about another 60 bodies an exclusive interview on his jet returning from an event as we have to defend Coast Guard networks from attack in New Orleans. “And I think it’s important to have the and we have to bring a cyber regulatory face to the water- conversation in government that when you talk about in- front. We need to build our own technical experts in this vestment in infrastructure, maritime infrastructure and the area.” To that end, a new cyber major program at the Coast

Coast Guard need to be a part of that conversation and a Guard Academy will deliver its ? rst graduates in 2022. part of the equation.” While cyber security is an obvious point of focus, Ad-

At the same time, the U.S. Coast Guard is building or miral Schultz said that the evolution of technology in the preparing to build boats and ships at a historic clip. “The maritime sector – from autonomous ships to emerging

Coast Guard is building ships. We’re planning to build commodities (LNG & LPG, for example) require exper- 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters, we’re still building Fast Re- tise to regulate. “We have to generate and re-generate ex- sponse Cutters, we’re building National Security Cutters, pertise, we have to make people feel valued and want to we’re positioned to start building Waterways Commerce stay as part of the brand,” said Admiral Schultz. “Techni-

Cutters and now we’re building Polar Security Cutters,” cally smart people are central.”

August 2019

MN 62