SAULT STE. MARIE — The United States Coast Guard recently announced it was changing the names of its districts.
On July 3, the Coast Guard announced that all of its operation districts were being renamed to represent the geographic areas that they cover and service instead of being numbered. This means that the Coast Guard’s District Nine will now be known as the USCG Great Lakes District.
The naming is a key initiative under Force Design 2028, which officials said is intended to transform the Coast Guard into a more modernized and streamlined organization.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the change on May 21 so that the districts would clearly represent the areas each district operates in. The goal is to more clearly align districts with their areas of responsibility and make collaboration with interagency partners and other organizations easier.
Officials added that it will also make it so the American public has a better understanding of which district services their area, potentially making it easier to reach out during times of emergency.
“This renaming is more than just a change in labels; it’s a critical step in our journey to become a more agile, capable and responsive fighting force,” said Acting Commandant Kevin Lunday in a statement. “Under Force Design 2028, we are driving fundamental changes to speed decision-making, improve strategic alignment and ultimately best serve the American people for decades to come.”
The numbered districts originated in World War II when the Coast Guard was operating as part of the U.S. Navy. The two organizations have since split, but the established districts remained even though the Navy stopped using numbered districts more than 25 years ago.
The other name changes include:
— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: U.S. Coast Guard renames districts to better represent operational areas
Reporting by Brendan Wiesner, Sault Ste. Marie News / The Sault News
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