Washington, DC, July 15, 2025 —
On 01 July 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard officially began its transition from the former Mission Support-Deputy Commandant for Materiel Readiness (DMR) organization to the Deputy Commandant for Systems (DCS): DCS_TownHall_2025-07-01.mp4 (CAC required).
But what’s in a name? Some fancy new acronyms, new signage, some cool new seals? Sure. But, this is no porcine makeover. The DCS transition is a chance to better support the hardworking Coast Guard workforce through a host of critical organizational improvements.
Rear Admiral Chad Jacoby leads the charge as the Deputy Commandant for Systems, shaping this new organization to enhance effectiveness and increase readiness for operations, now and in the future. Over the next two years, DCS will implement strategic changes stemming from Force Design 2028 and findings from Coast Guard studies of the former Mission Support organization (See ALCOAST 155/25 and ALCGFD28 003/25.) (CAC required). During this transition, DCS will continue providing acquisition and sustainment services without interruption.
The new DCS structure will center around five “Domains” – Air, Shore, Surface, C5I, and Robotic & Autonomous Systems (RAS). Organizing things this way will, among other things, enhance our ability to provide operational capabilities necessary for meeting the challenges of our modern Service. We’ll have better aligned resources that work in concert, and any gaps or tensions will become more readily evident and able to be dealt with more quickly by the people who know these systems best. AKA – This change will help the U.S. Coast Guard do what it does best – faster and smarter.
An example might be acquiring a new asset - the experts who know how to buy a new cutter are right there alongside the experts that will be able to forecast what it will cost to maintain that cutter, while also working alongside the people who will know how to transition a cutter to another partner nation at the end of its lifetime. This reorganization is really about improving lifecycle management of all Coast Guard assets and systems – and ensuring the integrated planning necessary to have the next generation of replacements ready when needed to be placed into service.
Other planned changes include: improving integration across Domains, removing barriers (statutory, regulatory, process, organizational, etc.) to speed capability delivery, and developing capacity necessary for contracting, engineering, planning, acquisition, and procurement.
Not the “coolest” sounding list, admittedly, but making these types of changes helps ensure the Coast Guard has the right assets, in the right places, at the right times and that those assets are ready to fulfill our 11 statutory missions.
For members of the Coast Guard workforce seeking additional information, the DCS Portal page (CAC required)is your one-stop shop for information including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), organizational charts, leadership biographies, DCS’ messages, and other communication products. You will also find resources here to help with logistical changes, like a crosswalk of former and current office names, the DCS seal, a name plate template, a feedback form, and more.