News Release

ARLINGTON, Va. – A change of command ceremony is scheduled for the Deployable Operations Group at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Arlington, June 23 at 10 a.m.

During the ceremony, Capt. Gene Gray will assume the responsibilities of DOG Commander from Capt. Gail P. Kulisch.

During her tenure, Kulisch led 26 units and more than 3,200 personnel in support of major operations worldwide, including Operation Unified Response, the Deepwater Horizon Response, Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom and domestic security missions as well as counter-narcotics operations that lead to the interdiction of more than 26.9 tons of cocaine with an estimated street value of $864 million.

Gray is arriving from the White House, where he was the National Security Council’s Director for Central America and Caribbean Affairs. Previously, he served as Chief, Office of Counter-terrorism and Defense Operations at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters and Joint Staff, Chief, Air, Land and Maritime Homeland Defense Division at the Pentagon. He also commanded the Coast Guard Cutters Cape Shoalwater, Sassafras and Valiant

The change of command ceremony is a time-honored event preserved by the rich heritage of naval tradition. It is a custom that is formal and impressive and designed to strengthen the respect for the continuity of command that is vital to any military organization. The climax of the ceremony is reached when both officers read their orders, face one another, salute and transfer responsibility for the command. This provides the entire command with the knowledge that the new officer directed by proper authority is taking command and an opportunity to witness this transfer of responsibility.

The DOG provides properly equipped, trained and organized Deployable Specialized Forces to the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and interagency operational and tactical commanders.

The DSFs include:

Tactical Law Enforcement Teams – The TACLETs were created to provide specialized law enforcement and support drug interdiction operations aboard U.S. Navy and Allied warships. They also support maritime interdiction anti-piracy operations and are capable of supporting the Department of Defense national defense operations.

Maritime Safety and Security Teams – MSSTsare part of the Department of Homeland Security’s layered strategy directed at protecting seaports and waterways. They provide waterborne and shoreside anti-terrorism force protection for strategic shipping, high-interest vessels and critical infrastructure.

Port Security Units – PSUs conduct expeditionary port security in support of requesting combatant commanders and support military and humanitarian operations worldwide. They provide sustained waterside protection to key assets including pier areas, high value vessels and harbor entrances.

National Strike Force Coordination Center – The NSFCC provides support and standardization guidance to the Atlantic Strike Team, Gulf Strike Team and Pacific Strike Team.  The NSFCC is also home to the Public Information Assist Team and oversees the maintenance of the OPA-90 mandated Response Resources Inventory, Oil Spill Removal Organization Classification Program, and National Maintenance Contract (NMC).

National Strike Force Strike Teams – Each strike team is a highly trained cadre of Coast Guard professionals who maintain and rapidly deploy with specialized equipment and incident management skills wherever needed. The strike teams are recognized worldwide as expert authorities in the preparation for and response to the effects resulting from oil discharges, hazardous substance releases, weapons of mass destruction events, and other emergencies on behalf of the American public.

Maritime Security Response Team – The MSRT provides a short-notice, threat-tailored, maritime response force to deter, protect against, and respond to threats of maritime terrorism and to higher-risk criminal law enforcement threats on the water or in a port. The MSRT is a scalable and agile force that operational commanders directly request for short-notice maritime response. 

110623-G-BV5829-008 DOG change of command

ARLINGTON, Va. – Capt. Gene Gray (left) assumes the responsibilities of the Deployable Operations Group commander from Capt. Gail Kulisch (right) as Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, Pacific Area commander, presides over the DOG change of command ceremony, June 23, 2011. The DOG is the single commandauthority to rapidly provide the Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Justice and other interagency operational commanders with adaptive force packages drawn from the U.S. Coast Guard's deployable specialized force units. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Anderson.

110623-G-BV5829-021 DOG change of command

ARLINGTON, Va. – Capt. Gene Gray, Deployable Operations Group commander, departs the change of command ceremony where he assumed his responsibilities as the DOG commander, Thursday, June 23, 2011. The DOG is the single commandauthority to rapidly provide the Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Justice and other interagency operational commanders with adaptive force packages drawn from the U.S. Coast Guard's deployable specialized force units. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Anderson.