Greg Lewis

GAO Report on U.S. Maritime Security - The following is the June 10, 2025, Government Accountaiblity Office report, Maritime Security: Actions Needed to Address Coordination and Operational Challenges Hindering Federal Efforts. - What GAO Found The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employs assets—including aircraft and vessels—and personnel across the U.S. and abroad to secure U.S. borders, support criminal investigations, and ensure maritime security and safety. Relevant DHS components include the Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. - In prior work, GAO identified coordination challenges that hinder U.S. efforts to confront illicit maritime activities and recommended actions to improve oversight, measure effectiveness, and build organizational capacity. For example: - In March 2025, GAO found that Homeland Security Investigations had not fully implemented certain training requirements due to disagreements over training content with the Drug Enforcement Administration, with whom they coordinate. Without doing so, the agencies cannot ensure that their agents are properly trained to collaborate effectively on counternarcotics investigations. - In February 2024, GAO found that DHS had not developed targets for its coordinated efforts to combat complex threats like drug smuggling and terrorism—limiting its ability to assess the effectiveness of its efforts. - In April 2024, GAO found that the Coast Guard had not assessed the type and number of helicopters it requires to meet its mission demands, as part of an analysis of its assets. Doing so could help ensure it has the necessary aircraft capability to execute its missions in the coming decades. - DHS components and their law enforcement missions are vital to confronting and mitigating illicit maritime activities. Addressing GAO’s recommendations on setting targets and managing assets and personnel will help ensure that DHS efficiently uses its available resources to carry out its law enforcement missions to protect our maritime borders. - Why GAO Did This Study Securing the nation’s borders against unlawful movement of people, illegal drugs and other contraband, and terrorist activities is a key part of DHS’s mission. While there is increased attention to the southwest land border, criminal organizations continue to use maritime routes to smuggle people, drugs, and weapons into the U.S. - The U.S. government has identified transnational and domestic criminal organizations trafficking and smuggling illicit drugs as a significant threat to the public, law enforcement, and national security. In March 2021, GAO added national efforts to prevent, respond to, and recover from drug misuse to its High Risk List. - This statement discusses (1) key DHS resources to counter illicit maritime activities and (2) DHS operational challenges related to its efforts to counter illicit maritime activities.

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USV (RECKLESS) -contested logistics and littoral operations - Hydronalix looks to evolve the USV Reckless, partnering with the US Navy and Marine Corps. The Reckless USV offers an impressive carrying capacity of up to 500 lbs and features interchangeable lids that allow the platform to be easily reconfigured for a range of specialty missions. -Arizona-based company Hydronalix is working to expand the military utility of its general purpose unmanned surface vehicle (USV), Reckless, according to Hydronalix's president Robert Smith. - The US Marine Corps (USMC) has already fielded Reckless in Europe and Asia-Pacific, Smith confirmed to Janes at the Modern Day Marine (MDM) expo in Washington, DC on 29 April. - In Asia, the USV is being used by the US marines to “develop concept of operations (CONOPS) for contested logistics and littoral operations”. At the same time, the platform is being used in Europe in NATO's Operation ‘Baltic Sentry', in which the USMC is participating. - NATO's Allied Command Operations (ACO) commenced ‘Baltic Sentry' in January “to deter any future attempts by a state or non-state actor to damage critical undersea infrastructure” in the Baltic Sea, the alliance said in a 14 January press release. The mission will last “for an undisclosed amount of time” and involve frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, and new technologies, including “a small fleet of naval drones”. - The company is also working on the littoral explosive ordnance neutralisation (LEON) programme for the US marines. Two USVs were delivered for testing, Smith said. - Hydronalix has an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract with the US Navy (USN) and USMC worth USD100 million. “The ID/IQ contract has multiple options to support both US Navy and US Marine Corps requests,” Smith said, adding, “Our ID/IQ contracts are with the Navy, including the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).” - https://lnkd.in/eHP_iRJS 2. Hydronalix hverifiedSmall USVs, Unmanned Surface Vessels, SSRR & Water Rescue Robots - https://lnkd.in/ekk72NhQ

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Restoring America’s Maritime Power - China now poses the most serious challenge to U.S. global leadership since the Soviet Union—but with a crucial difference. Unlike the Soviets, China has made domination of both military and commercial maritime domains a central element of its strategy. - The challenge is stark. Chinese shipyards deliver roughly three vessels to its Navy for every one ship delivered to the US Navy by American shipbuilders. They achieve this by combining low-cost labor, massive supply chains and economies of scale thanks to its state-supported dominance of commercial shipbuilding. Last year, China secured about 75% of global new ship orders, while South Korea and Japan together claimed only 20%. Just five years ago, Korea and China were neck-and-neck at about 37% each. - Meeting this challenge requires America to expand and diversify its shipbuilding base, particularly by regaining a foothold in commercial shipbuilding. Effective collaboration with allies is essential.  - As the Trump Administration and a bipartisan coalition in Congress have recognized, America has a long way to go to meet the maritime challenges of today. The broad initiatives they have proposed reflect a three-part strategy. First, leverage America’s strength as the largest importing nation to blunt China’s continued march to maritime dominance. - Secondly, grow and modernize America’s commercial shipping and shipbuilding capabilities. Triple the US flag fleet trading internationally so that America can meet basic maritime logistics needs if American troops are ever forced into a Western Pacific conflict. Phase in a requirement that state-of-the-art ships in that fleet be built in American shipyards, providing steady demand to attract investment and spur the development of world-class shipyards.  - And third, deepen cooperation with allies to achieve these objectives. - Turning America’s maritime industry into a strategic asset will require more than rhetoric. The early steps—Executive Orders, congressional initiatives, and private-sector investments—are encouraging. But lasting success will depend on sustained commitment and a clear understanding: maritime power is national power. - https://lnkd.in/d46QVtV6

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Guidehouse Director John Koenig's career began with the Marine Corps artillery and additional duties as an operational planner. From planning and coordinating contingencies in South Korea to tribal engagement, stabilization and reconstruction in western Iraq, John’s military career was defined by solving what he calls “wickedly complex” problems. “I’ve always felt comfortable working through complexity,” John says. “Even when it feels unsolvable, if you dig deep enough, you can figure it out. And I love that I’m surrounded by colleagues at Guidehouse who are willing to do just that.” John’s passion aligns seamlessly with Guidehouse’s mission to outwit complexity. He supports the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), helping the Office of the Secretary (OS) and other key agencies identify the resources and outreach needed to solve the nation’s most significant public health challenges. One of his most meaningful projects? Standing up a Center of Excellence for eating disorders at a federal mental health agency. The Guidehouse team turned a low-attendance webinar series into a national platform, reaching thousands of providers, educators, and counselors working with youth at risk. As federal leaders seek to increase speed-to-value and maximize the impact of funds spent on behalf of the American people, the future demands more than just cost-cutting, Koenig said. It calls for inventive thinking, transformative strategies, and a willingness to move on from the status quo. “You can't reinvent government if you can't think with a blank sheet of paper,” Koenig said. “Change at this scale requires us to imagine solutions that don’t exist yet.”

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Trump Administration Launches Int'l Training Program for Shipbuilders. The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a small international skill-building program for American shipbuilding workers, designed to connect community colleges and technical schools in the U.S. with training programs overseas. The knowledge exchange would help bring cutting-edge practices from East Asian yards back to the United States - one of many steps that the Trump administration is taking in an attempt to boost shipbuilding capability at home. The department has set aside $8 million to help develop a "specialized, internationally recognized trade curricula" in partnership with experts in South Korea, Japan, Finland, Italy and Canada. (These nations include priority partners for the Trump administration, which favors Finnish icebreakers and South Korean efficiency; Italy's shipbuilding champion, Fincantieri, also has a role in U.S. defense shipbuilding.) In addition to joint curriculum development, the program will also send American workers overseas to learn at partner institutions. The priority technical positions for the four-year program include boilermakers, electricians, steamfitters, shipwrights and welders. Organizations with an interest in grant funding for the program may apply at https://lnkd.in/e3KUSJMK. “Working closely with our allies will advance the Department of Labor’s mission to create effective shipbuilding apprenticeship programs right here in the United States,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “We are committed to helping President Trump restore maritime dominance by preparing American workers for success, which will lead to more mortgage-paying jobs and enhance national security.”

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For more information about the Irregular Warfare Initiative's (IWI) SOF Program: “Advancing the SOF Profession: The Future of IWI’s SOF Focus Area.” The article outlines why the SOF profession must continue to evolve to remain relevant in an era of strategic competition—where influence, legitimacy, partnerships, and adaptability matter as much as traditional battlefield performance. It emphasizes: - SOF’s role beyond crisis response and direct action - Professionalization as a strategic requirement, not an administrative exercise - The importance of intellectual development, education, and discourse - Why SOF remains uniquely positioned for competition below the threshold of armed conflict As the character of warfare continues to change, this piece argues that SOF effectiveness depends on sustained investment in ideas, people, and institutions—not just capabilities. 📄 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/expw-Juu

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