Coast Guard, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Open Technology Center

Port of San Diego Commissioner Marshall Merrifield (from left), Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Mission Support Vice Adm. Michael F. McAllister, Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), University of California San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla and Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) take part in a ceremony at Scripps Institution of Oceanography on Jan. 24. U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick Kelley

SAN DIEGO — The U.S. Coast Guard and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego launched the Blue Technology Center of Expertise on the Scripps Oceanography campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and expo on Jan. 24, the Coast Guard 11th District said in a release.

Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.); Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.); Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.); UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla; Port of San Diego Commissioner Marshall Merrifield; and Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Mission Support Vice Adm. Michael F. McAllister spoke at the event to celebrate the partnership between Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Coast Guard.

A Coast Guard Sector San Diego color guard presents the colors durning a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego on Jan. 24. U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick Kelley

“The Blue Technology Center of Expertise will better connect the Coast Guard with the tremendous government, academic and industry innovation ecosystem in the San Diego area,” McAllister said. “It will create a unique pipeline for the rapid identification and implementation of new maritime technologies into critical Coast Guard operations around the globe.”

Blue technology is any technology, system or platform designed for use above, on or below the surface of the ocean that can support or facilitate Coast Guard maritime domain awareness, search and rescue, emergency response, maritime law enforcement, marine inspections and investigations. The Coast Guard was authorized to establish the Blue Technology COE by the 2018 Save Our Seas Act.

A COE is a group of people from different disciplines who work together to increase performance and efficiency in certain areas. The Blue Technology COE will enable sharing of information between the Coast Guard and the private sector, other federal agencies, academia and nonprofit organizations.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography is a leading center for marine research and education, with an emphasis on innovation dating back to World War II. The institution is home to significant programs such as the Coastal Data Information Program, an extensive network for monitoring waves and beaches along the U.S. coastlines, and HF-Radar Network, a near real-time ocean surface current measurement network of shore-based radar systems.