Date: Feb. 2, 2005

Contact: Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Carter

(202) 267-1933

WASHINGTON – Adm. Thomas Collins, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, announced today the appointment of Katherine E. Johnson as director of the Coast Guard’s international affairs staff and foreign policy advisor.

"America’s success at securing the maritime border is a direct result of the interrelationship between effective maritime border security and sound international relations. The Coast Guard is engaged daily on the international scene in the interdiction of illegal drugs and migrants, the enhancement of maritime security and environmental concerns, and the training and technical assistance to foreign governments," said Collins. "It is crucial that we do the job right, and we are fortunate that an individual as qualified as Ms. Johnson has agreed to lead the Coast Guard’s international affairs efforts."

Johnson will begin her duties at the Coast Guard’s Washington headquarters on February 7, where she will coordinate international policy, participation, and operations within the Coast Guard and with other U.S. government agencies, foreign governments, and international organizations. She will also be the commandant’s principal advisor on strategies, foreign policy matters, and the general impact of Coast Guard programs and operations on international affairs.

A resident of Alexandria, Va., Johnson comes to the Coast Guard from the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, where she served as the principal director for western hemisphere affairs and was responsible for providing strategic direction and guidance concerning defense and military relations with the countries of Latin America. She previously served as director for counter-proliferation policy and director for Central Asia, the Caucasus and Eurasian regional programs at the Defense Department.

Johnson graduated from Northeastern University in 1987, received a master’s degree from Tuft’s University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1989, and earned an MBA in 1998 from Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management. Johnson was appointed to the federal government’s senior executive service in 2003.

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