By Katherine McIntire Peterskpeters@govexec.comDecember 18, 2007

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1207/121807kp1.htm

Eight months after taking control of its troubled fleetwide modernization program from Integrated Coast Guard Systems, a consortium created by Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp., the Coast Guard is claiming significant progress in putting the $24 billion acquisition program, known as Deepwater, back on course.

"This is a much different acquisition than we had a year ago," said Rear Adm. Gary Blore, assistant commandant for acquisition. At a briefing for reporters at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, he noted that at this time last year, major components of the program were failing or stalled, and the Coast Guard was under fire for not adequately overseeing the contract, which comprises a complex mix of aircraft, watercraft and communications systems linking everything together.

When problems came to a head last April, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen announced the service would take over the contractor's role of integrating the program's components. By reorganizing and expanding its acquisition and engineering workforces, revising the terms of the contract award, and by demonstrating a willingness to turn to other contractors, Blore said the Coast Guard already is starting to see positive effects...

Thanks 1110 do you have a point to discuss or just posting a link to an article?

Looks to me like he's saying DW is back on course or did my new glassess fail me? I rather read it here then watch CSPAN.

1110, would you say the CGAC spoke too soon reading that the flagship of this program is now said to have some "issues" with tempest? I don't want to discuss the specifics but having gone through tempest inspections, that's not something to take lightly and the navy will treat it like a black sheep during excercises if allowed to go along at all.

tc1uscg, I'd say the initial report of the TEMPEST discrepancies is/was correct.

I would also say that the CG is working hard to ensure the "issues" are corrected. My sources tell me the CG is now being very strict...going as far as failing things that even the Navy would allow to pass and paying out of their own funds above and beyond what is required by the contract. From my perspective, as long as the right thing keeps happening, it's good for the Coast Guard and good for National Security.

...and we can all thank people like Mike De Kort for sacrificing his career and putting his a$$ on the line for the CG and it's personnel by doing the hard, but correct thing in bringing this issue to light. Those who attempted to discredit and ridicule him for having the Coast Guard's back and putting the CG's best interest over his own personal gain owe an indebted apology.

Yes, I agree. Though Mike sorta went the wrong way on this site (he should have just PM'd people) to obtain privi info, I said it once, I'll say it again. He may have pissed off a few brase hats at HQ to the point his banning was pretty much fate. But there are Coasties tonight that might owe their lives to the guy as he helped bring out the issues on the 123's that went beyound the cracking hulls. The rest of how he was treated on this board is water under the bridge. We all assumed HQ had a part in it but I seem to feel it was someone connected to HQ (retired) had something to do with it, based on some email I got, he wasn't coming back no matter how un-american the reason for shutting him down was or protests logged to the leaders of MIL.COM. I hope he's doing well.

Not sure if you folks saw the video put together by the Acquisition Directorate to talk about what they accomplished in 2007. We've posted it on the Channel to make it easy for everyone to find. You can watch it here:

Coast Guard Channel Viewer Videos

Tam
The Coast Guard Channel