People and Missions of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Various Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary Offices and Departments have responsibility for a variety of Auxiliary programs at the Flotilla, Division, District and National levels.
Below is a truncated listing of responsibilities for each Office or Department. Move your mouse over Office and Department headings listed in dark red for additional information.
Auxiliary Officers
Elected Officers and the National Commodore (NACO)
- National Legislative Liaison Committee
- Commodore's Vision
- Business Plan
- White Papers
- On Course e-Zine
- National Calendar
National Directorates
Operations & Marine Safety Directorate
- Auxiliary Contingency Planning
- Sector Organization
- O-Dept — Response Department
- P-Dept — Prevention Department
Recreational Boating Safety Directorate
- B-Dept — Boating Department
- E-Dept — Education Department
- V-Dept — Vessel Examination and RBS Program Visitation Department
- A-Dept — Public Affairs Department
- H-Dept — Human Resources Department
- I-Dept — Informational Technology Department
- T-Dept — Training Department
International Affairs Directorate
- Support Coast Guard International Programs
- Enhance International Awareness Of The Auxiliary
- Caribbean Search & Rescue Initiative (CSAR)
- Interpreter Corps
Supporting Organizations
Coast Guard Auxiliary Association (CGAuxA)
- Auxiliary Center (AUXCEN)
- Shop Auxiliary
- The Beacon Magazine
- The Navigator Magazine
National Association of Commodores
- Support U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
- Assist the National Commodore and the National board of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in advancing the programs of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in conjunction with the National Commodore and/or the National Board.
- Keep members of NAC informed concerning matters of current interest on the National level.
- Encourage member of NAC to actively participate in the Auxiliary within their respective Flotillas, Divisions, and Districts, and to encourage all Commodores (elected and appointed) to become members of the National Association of Commodores.
Missions of the Auxiliary
- State Boating Law Administrator RBS (Recreational Boating Safety) Liaison
- Grants for Flotillas/Divisions
- State Liaison Officer Qualification Examinations
- RBS Partnership Agreements (Memorandums of Agreement/Understanding)
- Waterways Management With NASBLA (National Association of State Boating Law Administrators)
Finance
While this program does not report to a National-level department, Finance (FN) exercises responsibility and supervision over financial matters. Keeps complete and understandable records of all receipts, disbursements, and other financial transactions.
Some of its area of responsibilities are:
- Annual Financial Report
- Annual Budget
For more information:
Contact your District (DSO-FN), Division (SO-FN) or Flotilla (FSO-FN) Finance Staff Officer.
The Department of Information Technology is responsible for the planning, collection, and dissemination of information and statistics at all levels of the Auxiliary.
Some of its area of responsibilities are:
- Communication Services (CS)

- Information Services (IS)
- AUXDATA

- AUXInfo

- eDirectory

- Forms
- Flotilla Finder
- C-School Portal

Legal Affairs
The Department of Legal Affairs (L) serves as the general legal counsel to the Auxiliary, to members of the National Board and to National Department Chiefs on all legal matters concerning the Coast Guard Auxiliary. It keeps and maintains custody of the original copies of all valuable documents and instruments of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Some of its area of responsibilities are:
- Standing Rules
- Tax Information
- Contract Information for Elected Officers
For more information:
Contact your District Staff Officer for Legal Affairs (DSO-LP) through your chain of leadership.
Marine Safety & Environmental Protection
The Prevention ("P") Department is responsible for the planning and administration of Auxiliary programs to support the Coast Guard's Marine Safety and Marine Environmental Protection ("M") Directorate's Programs.
- Marine Safety (MS)
- Navigation Systems (NS)
- Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiners
- Trident Program
- Container Inspection Assistance
- Port Safety & Security Inspections
- Commercial Vessel Safety & Security Inspections
- Licensing Exam Administration
- MSIS/MISLE Support
- Environmental Education
Maritime Domain Awareness/Operation Patriot Readiness (MDA/OPR)
- America's Waterway Watch (AWW)
Materials
While this program does not report to a National-level department, Materials (MA) exercises responsibility and supervision over the procurement of materials including stationery, forms and publications. Maintains and disseminates, as required, listings of supplies, sources and information on procurement
Some of its area of responsibilities are:
- Procurement Of Stationary, Forms & Publications
For more information:
Contact your District (DSO-MA), Division (SO-MA) or Flotilla (FSO-MA) Staff Officer.
- Member Training (MT)
- Health & Safety
- Leadership
- Front End Analyses
- Academy Support
- Public Affairs (PA)
- Publications (PB)
- Navigator Magazine
- SITREP e-zine
- UPDATE Newsletters
- Historian
- Photography / Graphics / Imagery
- Coastie
- National Safe Boating Week
- International Search & Rescue (ISAR) Competition
The Department of Education (E), assists in accomplishing the Auxiliary's mission of providing exceptional boating safety education to the American public.
Some of its area of responsibilities are:
- Public Education
Human Resources (H) is responsible for membership growth and retention, diversity and increasing pride and esprit de corps among Auxiliary membership.
Some of its area of responsibilities are:
- Academy Introduction Mission (AIM)
- AUXCHEF
- Diversity
- Help Wanted Ads
- Interchange Newsletter
- Work/Life Ombudsman Programs
- Recruitment and Retention
- Uniforms and Protocol
Recreational Boating Safety Visitation Program
The Department of Vessel Examination & Recreational Boating Safety Visitation (V) is part of the Coast Guard Auxiliary's Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Directorate. This Directorate coordinates and oversees the Auxiliary mission in support of the Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety with the development and implementation of various RBS programs.
Some of its area of responsibilities are:
- Recreational Boating Safety Visitation (PV)
Secretary / Records
While this program does not report to a National-level department, the Secretary / Records (SR) exercises responsibility and supervision for the recording and subsequent publication of the minutes of official sessions.
Some of its area of responsibilities are:
- Maintains Roster Of Officers & Staffs
- Maintains Meeting Minutes
- Records Committee Assignments
For more information:
Contact your District (DSO-SR), Division (SO-SR) or Flotilla (FSO-SR) Staff Officer.
The Department of Vessel Examination & Recreational Boating Safety Visitation (V) is part of the Coast Guard Auxiliary's Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Directorate. This Directorate coordinates and oversees the Auxiliary mission in support of the Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety with the development and implementation of various RBS programs.
Some of its area of responsibilities are:
- Vessel Examination
- One-on-One Boater Education