Week 3 — Key Insights
Key Learning Moments:
[1] “Don’t underestimate what you can do in 10 Weeks” (Sam Jackson, Austra Lumina, Former H4D TA). We discussed with Sam the challenges of addressing a problem as complex as drug smuggling interdictions, as thousands of government employees are working on the same issue. However, we learned that our concentrated focus and curiosity as outsiders can still yield valuable insights.
[2] “Interdictions are only 3% of the problem” (Capt Miller, Navy). We gained broader context around drug smuggling operations and learned that it is not only identification and interdiction that matter. Instead, cutting the supply of drugs at the source and being more efficient in prosecution can dramatically reduce the amount of smuggling.
[3] The Navy has a common operation picture for operations, but the Coast Guard doesn’t (Capt Miller, Navy). This system is known as the NAVY GCCS (Global Command and Control System). While we’re not sure why the Coast Guard doesn’t have something similar, it is likely due to budget constraints.
[4] “It’s already in the interagency authorization language to coordinate” (CDR O’Mara). We learned that there are already directives in place to compel agencies to cooperate. However, communication is still trust / relationship based.
New Hypothesis:
OLD HYPOTHESIS: Not sharing steady-state (that is, interagency asset allocation prior to identification) patrol schedules among agencies operations limits vessel identification. [We are still testing this hypothesis]
NEW HYPOTHESIS: Visualizing past capture and route data will help the US Coast Guard identify choke points and narrow down patrol regions and asset allocations.
MVP:
Our vision is a single, digital map of asset locations + patrol schedules across agencies to reduce critical blind spots from overlapping patrols and increase response readiness to a threat.
Interviewees:
3.01 — Director, Protected Seas at the Anthropocene Institute [Mike and Jacky]
3.02 — Marine Corps Lt. Col, Regional support team chief for JTF North [Mike]
3.03 — General, Director of national drug policy, Former commander of SOUTHCOM [Mike and Josh]
3.04 — Coast Guard CDR, National Security Affairs Fellow at Hoover [Mike and Josh]
3.05 — Supervisor, Coastal Border Enforcement Team in San Clemente [Mike and Perry]
3.06 — Former H4D TA, Member of Austra Lumina Team [Perry and Jacky]
3.07 — Captain, US Navy; D.C. director for the Maritime Efforts of Navy Fleet [Perry and Jacky]
3.08 — Supervisory Border Patrol Agent [Josh and Perry]
3.09 — CDR, Chief Pilot in SFO [Josh and Perry]
3.10 — LCDR, Sector Enforcement Officer & Chief Warrant Officer [Josh and Perry]
3.11 — CBET Officer, Coast Guard Special Agent [Mike and Perry]
