[Scan-DC] Sector Command Center - Joint Harbor Operations Center Dedicated

[Alan Henney]

Press Release Date: March 23, 2006
Contact: PO Krys Hannum
757-398-6272

DEDICATION CEREMONY, OPEN HOUSE OF USCG, NAVY HARBOR OPERATION CENTER
*Media are invited to attend the ceremony and tour the SCC-JHOC
facility. Interested media need to contact Petty Officer Krys Hannum
at 757-398-6272 for access to the base.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - The Hampton Roads Sector Command Center - Joint
Harbor Operations Center (SCC-JHOC) is scheduled to be formally
dedicated at a ceremony and open house Friday at 10 a.m. at the Coast
Guard Integrated Support Command in Portsmouth.

The SCC-JHOC combines detection capability and command and control
functions to Coast Guard and Navy entities within the Port of Hampton
Roads. The operation center monitors, collects and provides valuable
information and coordination capability to other federal, state, and
local agencies, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Coast Guard and Naval personnel at the SCC-JHOC detect, monitor, and
track daily vessel movements, critical port infrastructure, and
military essential waterways through a system of radar, visual
cameras, infrared cameras and other sensors that span the port.
Additionally, the staff would assume tactical control and coordination
of responding law enforcement agencies during suspected and actual
maritime security threats or incidents.

The SCC-JHOC’s foundation extend back to the original JHOC, which was
established in November 2001 at Naval Station Norfolk, to provide
maritime domain awareness and improved command and control
capabilities in the Hampton Roads area, resulting in the recognition
that naval vessels and commercial interests were in jeopardy following
the attacks of 9-11.

Through agreements between the Coast Guard and Navy, the JHOC was
organized as a prototype operation offering expanded surveillance and
response capabilities and resources to meet the emerging
anti-terrorism force protection mission. To promote effectiveness, the
JHOC was co-located with other Coast Guard watches at a new facility
in 2004, and all watches were combined into the Sector Command Center
(SCC) in 2005; coinciding with the establishment of Coast Guard Sector
Hampton Roads.

The SCC-JHOC is a prototype and will be used as a model to
implementing in all 35 of the Coast Guard's sector command centers.

The Hampton Roads SCC-JHOC works in support of the Coast Guard Sector
Hampton Roads commander, Capt. Robert O'Brien.

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