NEW ORLEANS –U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen announces the opening of two Coast Guard National Centers of Expertise during a speech at The International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, Dec. 4, 2009. Seven Coast Guard NCOEs are being established around the country to provide venues for professional development and exchange between industry partners and the Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann.

NEW ORLEANS — U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Jim Tunstall, chief of staff for the Eighth Coast Guard District, shakes hands with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin during a Mayor's Military Advisory Committee meeting for the Mayor’s Military Appreciation Day, here Nov. 19, 2009. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tom Atkeson.

NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Coast Guard World War II veteran George Blessing, a crewmember of both the U.S. Coast Guard cutters Iris (WLB-395) and Taney (WHEC-37), stands at attention during the national anthem at the grand opening ceremony of the newest annex of the National WWII Museum, Nov. 6, 2009.  The $50 million annex encompasses the Solomon Victory Theater, the Stage Door Canteen and the American Sector Restaurant. The master of ceremonies was Tom Brokaw and the event included several celebrity speakers, musical entertainment, and aerial fly-overs by both the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Elizabeth Bordelon.

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Alan J. Benoit, a vocalist and French horn player from the Marine Forces Reserve Band here, sings the national anthem while accompanied by a joint-service color guard featuring all five branches of the Armed Forces, before the Monday night NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons, Nov. 2, 2009.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas M. Blue.

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen (left), commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, speaks during the launch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Lower Mississippi River Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System as Dr. Jane Lubchenco (right), NOAA administrator; and Chris Bonura, communications manager, Port of New Orleans, look on. PORTS is a series of instruments which monitor and broadcast observations such as river currents, bridge clearances and wind. Used in conjunction with NOAA nautical charts and U.S. Coast Guard aids to navigation, PORTS has proven to reduce groundings and other incidents throughout the United States. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tom Atkeson.

NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano visits the U. S. Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Center Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 to meet with port partners, pilots, state, local and federal agencies to discuss inter-agency operability and port resurgence after Hurricane Katrina. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey J. Ranel, U. S. Coast Guard.

A Panama City Fire Department smallboat and crew work to control a simulated fire on the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel, Slow Dancin', as part of a search and rescue exercise conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at the Panama City Marina, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann)

The Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel, Aqua-Nut Express, and its crew, as well as the 41-foot rescue boat and crew from Station Panama City, take up their positions as part of the search and rescue exercise conducted at the Panama City Marina, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann)

In this photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard pilots from the Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., participate in an official change of the watch ceremony where the HC-144A Ocean Sentry relieved the HU-25 Guardian, Friday Sept. 25, 2009.

The Ocean Sentry has enhanced communications and search and rescue capabilities and greater endurance. Greater endurance will allow the aircrew to remain on station longer, collect more information, support other assets and track targets for longer periods of time.ATC Mobile is the first air station in the Coast Guard to fly the Ocean Sentry operationally.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer 3rd Class Elizabeth H. Bordelon)

In this photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard pilots from the Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., participate in an official change of the watch ceremony where the HC-144A Ocean Sentry relieved the HU-25 Guardian, Friday Sept. 25, 2009.

The Guardians stationed in Mobile have flown more than 34,386 hours, accounted for $4.2 million in property saved, and are credited with saving 168 and assisting 364 lives.The Guardians began its service in Mobile in 1984, relieving the C-131 Samaritan and the HU-16 Albatross.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer 3rd Class Elizabeth H. Bordelon)