Services Continue to Examine Challenges, Obstacles of Operating in Arctic

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Arctic continues to present operational and logistical challenges for the agencies that operate there, but studies are providing a clearer picture of how they should be adjusting to climate change, service leaders said during a panel presentation at the Navy League’s annual Sea-Air-Space exposition here.

“We are working on how to better understand the Arctic,” said
Rear Adm. John Okon, commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, and
oceanographer and navigator of the Navy.

Noting that climate change is happening — and there are
undeniable changes in sea ice over the last decade— Okon said the use of
unmanned systems could be a force multiplier for missions in the Arctic.

“We know we are going to have to operate [in the Arctic] and
protect the homeland,” he said.

Vice Adm. Daniel Abel, the U.S. Coast Guard’s deputy
commandant for operations, said the risks presented in the polar region are
growing each year. 

“It is undeniable conditions are changing up there … the
change has happened, and the change is happening,” Abel said.

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The Coast Guard’s annual Operation Artic Shield will once
again take place this summer. Arctic Shield’s goal is to increase knowledge of
operating in the region, as the service sends additional personnel and
resources to the area to see how they react.

The Coast Guard has no full-time base in the Arctic, as the
service operates there seasonally. Over the last several years, as sea ice has
melted sooner and shipping lanes have been opened for longer periods of time as
a result, the requirements for the Department of Homeland Security agency have
been more plentiful in the polar region.

Communicating with the Defense Department and allied nations
through automatic identification systems and other means has presented unique
challenges for the Coast Guard, given the harsh climate conditions.

“We are making sure that our requirements work with U.S.
Northern Command, and we have the abilities to communicate at the highest
latitudes,” Abel said.

“We are working on how to better understand the Arctic.”

Rear Adm. John Okon, commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, oceanographer and navigator of the Navy

Jeffrey Hutchinson, commissioner of the Canadian coast
guard, said he hopes the service continues to work closely with its counterpart
agency in the United States.

“We want to strengthen our partnership role,” he said.

Echoing comments from fellow panelist, Hutchinson said
climate change is an issue for the Arctic, and Canada needs to communicate to
get support from allies along with improving its relationship with other
nations that have a stake in the region.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, commander, U.S.
Northern Command, said the department is working on a unified approach among
all agencies that operate in the polar region.

Noting that they all face common challenges, he said new
technology is important in the Arctic and that continuing to better study the
region will be a focal point going forward.

“The
[Arctic] is a critically important topic,” he said.