Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has said that the problem behind the current strain on the armed forces is not the size of the force, but rather how the force is managed and the mix of capabilities at the United States’ disposal. The Coast Guard is an integral part of America’s national security apparatus. How should the Coast Guard be structured in the future to maximize its efficiency and effectiveness? How will the Coast Guard manage its many maritime domain responsibilities, from homeland security to protection of natural resources? The 2005 QDR is likely to generate even more strategic and programmatic decisions relating to Coast Guard issues.

Join us as Admiral Thomas H. Collins, Commandant, discusses the Coast Guard’s ongoing and future capabilities and roles as “America’s Shield of Freedom.”

This Lecture Series is made possible by a grant from the Tawani Foundation and its founder Colonel (IL) James N. Pritzker ILARNG (Ret.), who are dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding of the role of the Citizen Soldier in America's military heritage.