Coast Guard to Stand up Special Forces Command
The new command will oversee elite maritime response units and includes funding for 130 additional personnel, the Coast Guard said.
- On Wednesday, the Coast Guard announced it is establishing a Special Missions Command based at the C5I Service Center in Kearneysville, W.Va., with commissioning slated for Oct. 1, 2026.
- Currently, control of specialized forces is divided between Atlantic and Pacific area commanders; the unified structure aims to streamline decision-making amid a shifting 'geopolitical landscape.'
- The command will house elite units including the National Strike Force and Maritime Security Response Teams, and the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget includes funding to support an increase of 130 personnel.
- Adm. Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard, described the command as 'a vital evolution,' while Capt. Robert Berry, the lead transition officer, noted these forces are 'instrumental' to readiness.
- The command structure is designed for future scalability, and Capt. Robert Berry stated the headquarters in West Virginia may incorporate additional units, capabilities, and functions in the future.
13 Articles
13 Articles
West Virginia selected as home for U.S. Coast Guard Special Missions Command
CHARLESTON, W.Va. –The United States Coast Guard announcing Wednesday a new Special Mission’s Command that is going to be located at the Coast Guard C5I Service Center in Kearneysville. According to a release from Governor Patrick Morrisey, the SMC, will be used to unify the Coast Guard’s deployable specialized forces under a single operations commander. This aims to improve readiness, coordination, interoperability, and response capabilities fo…
Coast Guard to Counter Maritime Threats at Home, Abroad
MAY 6, 2026 – The Coast Guard is standing up the Special Missions Command to oversee its deployable specialized forces. The command will enhance the operational effectiveness of the Coast Guard in responding to a wide range of national emergencies and events as the demand for deployable specialized forces capabilities increase. The Coast Guard selected the existing Coast Guard C5I Service Center facility in Kearneysville, West Virginia, as the f…
Mike Hammer met with Admiral Adam Chamie of the Coast Guard at the 2026 Southern Command Mission Chiefs Conference in Florida.
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