Media Availability: Coast Guard Admiral to survey Arctic Ocean, visit Barrow

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Coast Guard invites members of the media aboard an Arctic domain awareness flight with Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, recently assigned 17th District commander, as he conducts his first Arctic assessment flight Tuesday, including an afternoon visit in Barrow to observe a preparatory exercise for a summer Arctic Ocean search and rescue drill.

Interested media will need to arrive at Million Air Flight Services, Ted Stevens Anchorage Int'l Airport (6160 South Airpark Drive Anchorage, AK 99502, phone: 907-550-8500) no later than 8:30 a.m. The Kodiak-based HC-130 Hercules aircraft will depart at 10 a.m. with an anticipated arival in Barrow at 3 p.m. and a return to Anchorage at 8 p.m.

Scientists aboard the flight will be collecting air and gas samples over the Barrow region and surveying Arctic ice conditions.

The stop in Barrow will allow Adm. Ostebo and government represenatives to observe a Mass Rescue Operation tabletop exercise formatted for open discussion on the challenges of managing a MRO in the Chukchi or Beaufort Seas.

The exercise scenario provides the "tool" for local, state and federal response partners to review existing procedures and identify improvements in procedural, equipment or planning processes. Exercise participants include Coast Guard 17th District and Sector Anchorage Command Center staff, Air Station Kodiak pilots, North Slope Search and Rescue, North Slope Borough, City of Barrow, 11th Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and Air National Guard 212th Rescue Squadron.

Accompanying Adm. Ostebo aboard the flight are representatives from the Department of Defense, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. National Park Service.

Interviews with Ostebo about the Coast Guard in Alaska and the Arctic will be available during the flight to Barrow.

Limited seating is available. Media interested in traveling with Adm. Ostebo to Barrow aboard the Arctic domain awareness flight should contact Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley at 907-321-4510 no later than Thursday.

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