The Coast Guard recently highlighted plans to transform its infrastructure and mission readiness through Force Design 2028 at the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Joint Engineer Training Conference (JETC) in Louisville, KY – inviting industry to play a key role in the effort.
“Achieving Force Design 2028 hinges on strong collaborations,” Rear Adm. Amy B. Grable said during the Executive Leadership Panel on May 14. “We are actively seeking innovative solutions in contracting, planning, design, and construction to speed up delivery and increase impact.”
Force Design 2028 is designed to revolutionize how the Coast Guard operates and is vital to supporting national priorities including securing the U.S. border and dominating the Arctic and Indo-Pacific regions.
Grable led the Coast Guard delegation to the event, where she shared updates on our evolving mission landscape and the significant investments underway. At least 20 % of Force Design spending will be dedicated to shore infrastructure for building new facilities, establishing new home ports, and recapitalizing existing ones – all of which demand effective coordination with private-sector partners.
Key engagements at the conference included:
- A dedicated “Path to Force Design 2028” session, which brought senior civil engineering leaders together with private-sector experts to identify key areas where industry support is essential. This session highlighted the Coast Guard’s commitment to open communication and transparency.
- The Executive Advisory Group (EAG) meeting, where Grable and other leaders emphasized collaboration, innovation, and cost-effective project delivery.
- Ongoing dialogue with SAME leadership and engineering firms to identify bottlenecks and align efforts.
The Coast Guard also hosted a well-attended exhibit booth and participated in strategic networking sessions, reinforcing the message that industry engagement is a two-way street.
What’s Next?
To keep up the momentum, the Coast Guard is developing a plan to host regional, site-specific industry engagement events. These will focus on solving local challenges, improving acquisition outcomes, and shaping agile infrastructure strategies.
As we move forward, all Coast Guard personnel involved in planning, acquisition, and execution are encouraged to think about how industry collaboration can help streamline operations, accelerate timelines, and increase mission impact.
Force Design 2028 is not just a plan – it’s a transformation. And success depends on partnership.
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