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26 • MarineNews • June 2006 Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore assumed duties as the program executive officer (PEO) of the Integrated Deepwater Sys- tem April 17, 2006. The innovative acqui- sition program provides for the sustain- ment, modernization, and recapitalization of surface, air, command and control, and logistics assets for the Coast Guard's mul- tiple maritime missions. Prior to his pre- sent assignment, Rear Adm. Blore served as special assistant to President Bush. In that capacity, he was the Homeland Secu- rity Council's senior director for border and transportation security. Rear Admiral Blore was awarded a bachelor of science degree in economics, with honors, from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a master's degree in public policy and administration from Columbia University, where he was selected as an International Fellow. Capt. Gordon I. Peterson, USN (Ret.), a senior technical director with the Anteon Corporation, interviewed Rear Adm. Blore for this article. MN: Why did you decide to attend the Coast Guard Academy? Rear Adm. Blore: I was the first person in my family to graduate from col- lege, and my family was of modest means. I could either find a college that would pay for my education or not go to college. That was a huge motiva- tor to go to a service academy. I applied to the Naval Acade- my and the Coast Guard Academy. I received appoint- ments to both, and in the spring of 1971 I chose to go to the Coast Guard Acade- my. A good friend of mine also applied and was accepted to the Coast Guard Academy, so I had a partner. Even as a teenager I was very impressed with what I learned about the Coast Guard-how it would join the Navy in times of war, for example, and how it was responsible for a number of mis- sions, including marine safety. There was, certainly, a humanitarian ele- ment in my deci- sion- environmental protection and search and rescue were important issues for me then, just as it was to be a member of the armed forces. MN: Will your experiences as spe- cial assistant to President Bush on the Homeland Security Council shape your outlook as Deepwater's pro- gram executive officer? Rear Adm. Blore: It certainly was a rare privilege to serve at the White House. It was quite enlightening to see the policy- making process in action and how the agencies fit together, including the involvement of both the Homeland Secu- rity Council and the National Security Council. I was the senior director for border and transportation security, and my duties were much different than my responsibil- ities in the Coast Guard. I was involved in policy development for immigration reform and other complex homeland- security issues including a variety of bor- der-screening initiatives. As a result, I have a better understanding of the role of maritime assets, the Port Security Pro- gram, and the interfaces between the Coast Guard with Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, and other agencies- including our partners in the Navy. I also learned why maritime domain awareness- knowledge of all that is transpiring in the maritime domain-is so important to our nation's security. The concept of developing a comprehen- sive picture of our operating environment is something that both the Coast Guard USCG Deepwater Program Rear Adm. Blore Takes the Helm Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore assumed duties as the program executive officer for the Coast Guard's Integrated Deepwater System acquisition in April. While acknowledging many program milestones achieved over the past year, Blore acknowledges some disappointments also were experienced. "We applaud our successes; we learn from our disap- pointments," Blore said. The Deepwater Program's first-in-class National Security Cutter, the Bertholf, will be launched this autumn and be delivered to the Coast Guard next year. The ship, shown here in May when it was approximately 50 percent complete, is being built at the Northrop Grumman Ship Systems yard in Pascagoula, Miss. (Photo by NGSS) JUNE MN2006 4(25-32).qxd 6/2/2006 10:53 AM Page 26
