36 FOGHORN O n May 7, 2026, the PVA/U.S. Coast Guard Quality Partnership (QP) met in person in Alex- andria, Va. In the weeks leading up to the meeting there was budgetary uncertainty that threatened to derail the spring meeting of PVA and Coast Guard senior leadership. Established in 1996 under the Coast Guard’s Prevention Through Peo- ple initiative, specifically the tenet “Honor the Mariner,” the QP is a long-standing forum whereby senior PVA and Coast Guard leadership meet twice a year to discuss issues of mutual concern and seek non-regula- tory solutions. In his opening remarks supporting the benefits of the part- nership, Rear Admiral (Select) Rob- ert Compher, the incoming assistant commandant for Prevention Policy and no stranger to working with PVA, stated that PVA was “the eyes and ears of the industry.” PVA President An- drew Sargis reinforced PVA’s commit- ment to maintaining the relationship by highlighting PVA’s efforts to edu- cate members of Congress and their staff on the importance of the Coast Guard Marine Safety mission during the Congressional Fly-In held just two weeks earlier in April. SHUTDOWN RECOVERY AND NEW PERSONNEL With the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding issued re- solved through the end of the fiscal year, RDML (Sel) Compher was able to discuss recovery efforts as Coast Guard personnel return to work. The unprecedented shutdowns, combined with hiring freezes and retirement opportunities, have had a detrimental effect on personnel, especially the ci- vilian workforce. Vacancies are an is- sue and the Coast Guard has brought on additional human resources staff to get personnel hired. Both the National Maritime Cen- ter (NMC) and the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) accumulated significant backlogs in applications due to the fact that their majority civilian workforces were not permitted to work. CAPT Patrick Drayer, commanding officer at NMC reported that there were 12,000 ap- plications/raise in grade and 10,000 medical certificate requests received during the latest shutdown. He stated it would take several months to clear that backlog while also taking in new applications. As a reminder, mariners are encouraged to submit mariner credential applications eight to 12 months in advance. Regarding new personnel coming into leadership positions at Coast Guard Headquarters, we are lucky that most of the senior leaders PVA works with will be sticking around; albeit in different roles. As mentioned previ- ously, RDML (Sel) Compher will be relieving RADM Wayne Arguin to lead Prevention Policy at Coast Guard Headquarters. RADM Arguin will be heading to Honolulu, Hawaii, to lead the Coast Guard’s Oceana District (formerly the 14th District). CAPT Dan Cost will relieve RDML (Sel) Compher at director of Inspec- tions and Compliance and CAPT Jennifer Doherty will relieve CAPT Cost as commanding officer of the Marine Safety Center. CAPT Drayer will be retiring this summer and will be relieved by CAPT James Suffern as NMC commanding officer. PVA CONCERN WITH MARINE SAFETY MISSION AND SERVICE DELIVERY PVA President Andrew Sargis thanked the Coast Guard for working ERIC CHRISTENSEN // PVA DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS & RISK MANAGEMENT THIRTY YEARS ON The QP Continues to Provide Opportunities for Improvement SAFETY MATTERS In his opening remarks supporting the benefits of the partnership, Rear Admiral (Select) Robert Compher, the incoming assistant commandant for Prevention Policy and no stranger to working with PVA, stated that PVA was “the eyes and ears of the industry.” PHOTO: JOHN GROUNDWATER
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