Coast Guard transitions IT support to St. Louis

WHO: Coast Guard Centralized Service Desk

WHAT: Ribbon cutting ceremony

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012

WHERE: 2nd Floor Room 2.107C 1222 Spruce St., St. Louis, Mo.

ST. LOUIS — The Coast Guard will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Tuesday, to officially open its new Centralized Service Desk in St. Louis. Over the past year, information technology support functions from around the United States have been transitioned to a single location to better serve the Coast Guard's IT mission. The new organization operates a 24/7 schedule and provides users with improved customer service and support.

The Coast Guard selected St. Louis as the CSD site due to its central location between east and west coasts and the reduced likelihood of a major service disruption caused by a natural disaster. The CSD along with geographically dispersed support units provide enhanced capabilities ensuring continuous IT operations should a disaster strike anywhere in the U.S.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, St. Louis has experienced a net loss of 61,000 jobs in the metro area since 2008. The Coast Guard's CSD initiative offers the St. Louis community an opportunity to expand and create dozens of jobs locally. Since the CSD began taking on new services in June of 2011, 35 active duty Coast Guard members and six civilians have transitioned to St. Louis and 33 local contractors have been hired.

Editor's Note: Media interested in attending the event should contact Rory Jansen at (757) 951-3770, rory.e.jansen@uscg.mil, to confirm attendance.

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