The headquarters of the Coast Guard is located at 2703 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE in Washington, D.C. The Coast Guard relocated to the grounds of the former St. Elizabeths Hospital[1] in 2013.
The Coast Guard is divided into two area commands, the Atlantic Area and the Pacific Area, each of which is commanded by a vice admiral, with each being designated Maritime Homeland Defense Areas. Each includes various district commands.[2]
The Coast Guard is further organized into nine districts, commanded by a District Commander, a rear admiral, with each responsible for a portion of the nation's coastline.[3]
There are three major operational commands located outside the United States:
USCG Far East Activities (FEACT) is located at Yokota Air Base, Japan. FEACT also commands Port Security Unit’s which deploy to South Korea, helping to support U.S. Naval Forces Korea. FEACT helps inspects U.S. ships overseas and foreign ships that will be operating in the Pacific. FEACT helps by providing Maritime Safety, Security, Training and International Support.[4]
Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) is based out of Manama, Bahrain. Established in 2002, the mission of PATFORSWA is to train, organize, equip, support and deploy combat-ready Coast Guard forces in support of CENTCOM and national security objectives.[6]
Various shore establishment commands exist to support and facilitate the mission of the sea and air assets and report directly to the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters is located in Southeast Washington, D.C.
Deputy Commandant for Operations
[7]
The Deputy Commandant for Operations (DCO) is charged with developing and overseeing the execution of operational planning, policy, and international engagement at the strategic level The DCO is led by a Vice Admiral and is located at the USCG headquarters in Washington, D.C.
National Command Center is tasked with maintaining situational awareness, current operations information and command centers for all USCG operations worldwide and support of Department of Homeland Security, federal, state and local authorities. It is a 24-hour operation located at the USCG headquarters in Washington, D.C., and led by a Rear Admiral.
Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy is tasked with developing and maintaining policy, standards and regulations pertaining to marine safety and security. It is located at the USCG headquarters in Washington, D.C., and is led by a Rear Admiral.[8]
United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Center verifies compliance of technical standards for the design, construction, alteration and repair of commercial vessels. It's located in Washington, D.C., and led by a Captain.
*United States Coast Guard Navigation Center is tasked with ensuring safe navigation of U.S. waterways and civil GPS operations for waterway navigation. It's located in Alexandria, Virginia, and led by a Captain.
National Vessel Documentation Centerlocated in Falling Waters, West Virginia, provides a register of vessels available in time of war or emergency to defend and protect the United States of America.
United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Laboratories located in New London, Connecticut, provides forensic oil analysis and expert testimony in support of the oil pollution law enforcement.
Assistant Commandant for Response Policy is responsible for developing and promoting policies for all Coast Guard forces to effectively accomplish operational maritime missions. It's located in Washington, D.C., and led by a Rear Admiral.
United States Coast Guard National Response Force serves as a nationwide emergency call center that fields INITIAL reports for pollution and railroad incidents and forwards that information to appropriate federal/state agencies for response, similar to that of a 911 dispatch center. It's located Washington, D.C., and commanded by a Captain.
Assistant Commandant for Capability is responsible for identifying and providing capabilities and standards in order to meet USCG mission requirements. Located in Washington, D.C., and led by a Rear Admiral.
Office of Cyberspace Forces is responsible for cyber capabilities and capacity to meet USCG mission requirements. It is also located in Washington, D.C., and led by a Captain.
Deputy Commandant for Mission Support
.[9] The Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (DCMS) is responsible for all facets of mission support and life-cycle management of USCG assets. It is located alongside the USCGC headquarters in Washington, D.C., and is led by a Vice Admiral.