Coast Guard Intelligence provides decision advantage, knowledge about adversaries, threats and the surrounding environment. The Coast Guard is a member of the Intelligence Community, a group of 17 Executive Branch departments and agencies that work together and separately to conduct intelligence activities necessary for the conduct of foreign relations and the protection of our nation. Roles and responsibilities of the Intelligence Community and its members are laid out in Executive Order 12333. As a member of the Intelligence Community, Coast Guard Intelligence produces and disseminates intelligence products to other national intelligence and federal law enforcement agencies, the Department of Homeland Security and to the National Command Authority. In addition to the authority prescribed in Executive Order 12333, the Coast Guard collects information of potential intelligence value using its law enforcement and regulatory authorities. Coast Guard Intelligence provides essential support to Coast Guard tactical and operational Commanders, and to senior Coast Guard leaders in their strategic management and policy-making role.

Coast Guard responsibilities include support for U.S. diplomacy and international relations. The Coast Guard Office of International Engagement and Foreign Policy enhances Coast Guard operations through meaningful international engagement, partnerships and security cooperation; and in doing so promotes global maritime governance and advances U.S. foreign policy and national security. The Coast Guard engages with foreign governments to build responsive and adaptive partnerships in order to maximize maritime domain awareness, shape international standards, discuss challenges to maritime security and support U.S. National Security, Homeland Security and Foreign Policy objectives. The Coast Guard offers a robust foreign visit program which enhances international strategy and promotes international maritime cooperation. Through the use of resident training programs at Coast Guard facilities and exportable in-country Mobile Training Teams, Coast Guard international training programs assist host nations in strengthening their maritime service capacity. Coast Guard asset transfers, arranged through the Foreign Military Sales program, allow other countries to obtain equipment needed to properly support their maritime missions. The Coast Guard also provides for in-country needs assessments, technical assistance field teams, infrastructure protection and development support and a diverse set of consultative services.

The Regulatory Development Program (RDP) provides Coast Guard enforceable policies and requirements applicable to maritime industry. Project management methodologies and ISO 9000 compliant best practices form the basis of the regulatory development process. The goal is timely and cost-effective regulations that balance government, industry and the public’s needs. The Administrative Procedures Act, various Executive Orders and other statutory and Administrative directives require proving the benefits of proposed actions exceed costs or costs are minimized for statutory mandates; impacts to small businesses or other entities mitigated; and environmental impacts characterized, all of which must be reviewed by the Administration and subject to public comment before coming into effect. Statutes, international agreements, changes in technology and lessons learned from marine accidents are driving forces. The Regulatory Development Program is also a key mechanism for outreach and engagement with the regulated public, industry and international partners.