Photo Release

ARCTIC OCEAN – Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara (left) watches as the Coast Guard Cutter Healy breaks ice along with the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis S. St-Laurent approximately 560 miles north of Barrow, Alaska, during an Arctic domain awareness flight Sept. 3, 2010. 

The Healy is designed to conduct a wide range of research activities, provide more than 4,200 square feet of scientific laboratory space, numerous electronic sensor systems, oceanographic winches and accommodations for up to 50 scientists.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Air Station Kodiak.

VALDEZ, Alaska - Coast Guard Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O'Hara, Coast Guard vice commandant and Alice Hill, senior counselor to the secretary of Homeland Security, tour the Port of Valdez aboard a Coast Guard Station Valdez response boat small Sept. 3, 2010.

Brice-O'Hara and Hill visited Valdez as part of a Department of Homeland Security familiarization visit to Alaska. 

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley.

VALDEZ, Alaska - From left to right Coast Guard Capt. Norman Custard, chief of staff 17th District, Alice Hill, senior counselor to the secretary of Homeland Security, Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O'Hara, Coast Guard vice commandant, Capt. Darryl Verfaillie, Marine Safety Unit Valdez commander, Betty McIntosh, Alyeska public relations, Capt. Jason Fosdick, Sector Anchorage commander, Petty Officer 3rd Class Kenneth Murafsky, Marine Safety Unit Valdez and Lt. Michael Maas, military aid to the deputy secretary of Homeland Security stand at the terminus of the 800-mile Alaska petroleum pipeline, Sept. 3, 2010.

Brice-O'Hara and Hill visited Valdez as part of a Department of Homeland Security familiarization visit to Alaska.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley.

KODIAK, Alaska - Lt. Christopher Stoeckler, an MH-60 pilot with Air Station Kodiak, explains the course of events during the rescue of victims from the recent plane crash case that claimed the life of former Alaska senator Ted Stevens to Coast Guard Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O'Hara, Coast Guard vice commandant and Alice Hill, senior counselor to the secretary of Homeland Security, during a visit to the Air Station Sept. 3, 2010.

The dignitaries visit to Kodiak was an effort to better understand the scope of Alaska operations and the inherent challenges of operating in the remote region.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.

KODIAK, Alaska - Cmdr. Andrew Raiha, commanding officer Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley, shows recent upgrades in the ship's engineering control room to Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O'Hara, Coast Guard vice commandant and Alice Hill, senior counselor to the secretary of Homeland Security, Sept. 3, 2010.

The Alex Haley is in an extended maintenance period, but effected a significant rescue of 28 survivors from the Taiwanese fishing vessel Hou Chun 11 in the South Pacific during an 80-day patrol in February, these and other aspects of the crew's missions were discussed to form a full picture of Alaska medium and high endurance cutter operations.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.

KODIAK, Alaska - Cmdr. Keith Ropella, commanding officer Coast Guard Cutter SPAR, discusses the legacy of the SPARs with Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O'Hara, vice commandant, during a visit aboard the SPAR Sept. 3, 2010.

SPAR's officer and chief's mess detailed the crew's experience in the Arctic as part of several annual exercises for Brice-O'Hara and Alice Hill, senior counselor to the secretary of Homeland Security, as well as the many challenges of operating in Alaska.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.