Page 28: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q2 2016)

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INTERVIEW

Admiral Paul Zukunft

Commandant of the United States Coast Guard

People Are Most Important

By Greg Trauthwein he Commandant of the United States Coast Guard has the systems and products needed to accomplish myriad mis- a lot on his plate: Enacting the USCG strategy in the sions for the coming generation. In this regard, Admiral Zuku-

T Arctic; Helping to stem illegal drug ? ows; Thwarting nft professes optimism, pointing out that the Coast Guard ac- the growing cyber security threat; Working to ensure Rights of quisition budget in 2016 doubled: the best acquisition budget

Navigation in several global hot spots … the list goes on. But ever for the nation’s ? fth, uniformed military service. when talk turns to his top priority, Admiral Paul Zukunft does With this portion of the operation in check, he stresses the not hesitate to name ‘people’ as one of his highest priorities … importance of people to the Coast Guard’s continued success. more succinctly, the attraction and retention of an increasingly “What I can’t take my eye off the ball on is the most critical diverse, intelligent and skilled workforce to drive the United element: people,” said Admiral Zukunft in an interview last

States Coast Guard through the next generation. month. “We must continue to invest in our human resource capital, not just recruiting, the training, but more importantly,

Stuff the retention of that work force, as well. You can have all the

If you talk about the U.S. Coast Guard, talk can quickly turn great tools in the kit, but if you don’t have that human resource to ‘stuff,’ as USCG commandeers ? eets of maritime and aerial capital, it could be a potential train wreck for us.” assets employed to keep U.S. waterways safe, navigable and While the level of talent entering the Coast Guard is at an secure. A big part of Admiral Zukunft’s job is ensuring that the all-time high, Admiral Zukunft maintains that real success

U.S. Coast Guard is adequately funded and directed to acquire comes in not simply ? nding good people, but keeping them; 28 Maritime Professional 2Q 2016| |

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