Cautious Planning: Coast Guard's CFO weighs mission mandates, program risks in uncertain budget climate

摘要

As the Coast Guard's assistant commandant for resources and chief financial officer (CFO), Rear Adm. Keith A. Taylor is responsible for building a budget that allows the service to adapt to an ever-changing maritime environment. A 1983 Coast Guard Academy graduate and former commander at Air Station Miami, Taylor stepped into his position in March after serving for two years as the service's deputy chief of staff. There, he helped direct service-wide coordination, strategic planning, policy development, financial actions and general management. Taylor said he believes funding for all eight National Security Cutters will happen "eventually" - three have been funded thus far - but the service could experience a $100 million shortfall in the coming year if oil prices spike like they did earlier this year. He said the service now is crafting the fiscal 2010 budget. Taylor discussed a wide range of budget-related issues facing the Coast Guard, including future funding for unmanned aerial vehicles, the Rescue 21 command, control and communications system, and the feasibility of building a new icebreaker to bolster the service's presence in the Arctic region, with Assistant Editor John C. Marcario. Excerpts follow.