[Music] before I begin my talk I just need to
before I begin my talk I just need to
before I begin my talk I just need to take a quick second to note that as
take a quick second to note that as
take a quick second to note that as Kadena the u.s. Coast Guard Academy I’m
Kadena the u.s. Coast Guard Academy I’m
Kadena the u.s. Coast Guard Academy I’m a federal employee which means my
a federal employee which means my
a federal employee which means my opinions aren’t necessarily those of the
opinions aren’t necessarily those of the
opinions aren’t necessarily those of the US Coast Guard or the US Department of
US Coast Guard or the US Department of
US Coast Guard or the US Department of Homeland Security now probably the first
Homeland Security now probably the first
Homeland Security now probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think
thing that comes to mind when you think
thing that comes to mind when you think of the u.s. Coast Guard is search and
of the u.s. Coast Guard is search and
of the u.s. Coast Guard is search and rescue
rescue
rescue maybe picture helicopters flying through
maybe picture helicopters flying through
maybe picture helicopters flying through hurricanes boats crashing through waves
hurricanes boats crashing through waves
hurricanes boats crashing through waves pretty crazy stuff now back in high
pretty crazy stuff now back in high
pretty crazy stuff now back in high school this is a big reason why I
school this is a big reason why I
school this is a big reason why I decided to join the Coast Guard in the
decided to join the Coast Guard in the
decided to join the Coast Guard in the first place
first place
first place wanted a bit of adventure but I also
wanted a bit of adventure but I also
wanted a bit of adventure but I also knew that I wanted to save lives now
knew that I wanted to save lives now
knew that I wanted to save lives now when I when I joined the Coast Guard I
when I when I joined the Coast Guard I
when I when I joined the Coast Guard I always thought of search-and-rescue as
always thought of search-and-rescue as
always thought of search-and-rescue as being as simple as dispatching a
being as simple as dispatching a
being as simple as dispatching a helicopter I never realized how many
helicopter I never realized how many
helicopter I never realized how many moving components go into each one of
moving components go into each one of
moving components go into each one of our search and rescue cases we have
our search and rescue cases we have
our search and rescue cases we have predictive software’s that allow us to
predictive software’s that allow us to
predictive software’s that allow us to optimize our search patterns and we have
optimize our search patterns and we have
optimize our search patterns and we have an entire support infrastructure working
an entire support infrastructure working
an entire support infrastructure working behind the scenes to make sure these
behind the scenes to make sure these
behind the scenes to make sure these cases are solved well search rescue is
cases are solved well search rescue is
cases are solved well search rescue is much more of a science than it appears
much more of a science than it appears
much more of a science than it appears in the movies I think it’s impossible to
in the movies I think it’s impossible to
in the movies I think it’s impossible to understand the gravity of our work
understand the gravity of our work
understand the gravity of our work unless your life has been on the line
unless your life has been on the line
unless your life has been on the line unless you’ve needed to call the Coast
unless you’ve needed to call the Coast
unless you’ve needed to call the Coast Guard or 911 I’ve never been in this
Guard or 911 I’ve never been in this
Guard or 911 I’ve never been in this position but one of my best friends from
position but one of my best friends from
position but one of my best friends from the Academy has now back in high school
the Academy has now back in high school
the Academy has now back in high school he knows best friend we’re selling
he knows best friend we’re selling
he knows best friend we’re selling around Lake Champlain in northern
around Lake Champlain in northern
around Lake Champlain in northern Vermont it was late March so is a
Vermont it was late March so is a
Vermont it was late March so is a tropical 40 degrees so Hardy for minors
tropical 40 degrees so Hardy for minors
tropical 40 degrees so Hardy for minors there was a lot of runoff in the water
there was a lot of runoff in the water
there was a lot of runoff in the water which meant there are a lot of logs
which meant there are a lot of logs
which meant there are a lot of logs roots just general debris in the water
roots just general debris in the water
roots just general debris in the water and they ended up striking one of those
and they ended up striking one of those
and they ended up striking one of those logs and they knocked off their rudder
logs and they knocked off their rudder
logs and they knocked off their rudder for to their sailboat not a big deal
for to their sailboat not a big deal
for to their sailboat not a big deal they dropped down the sails and his
they dropped down the sails and his
they dropped down the sails and his friend reached out to grab the rudder
friend reached out to grab the rudder
friend reached out to grab the rudder except it was just outside of reach so
except it was just outside of reach so
except it was just outside of reach so they took a quick glance at each other
they took a quick glance at each other
they took a quick glance at each other and his friend decided to jump in to
and his friend decided to jump in to
and his friend decided to jump in to swim after the rudder not a big deal
swim after the rudder not a big deal
swim after the rudder not a big deal because he was wearing a wetsuit except
because he was wearing a wetsuit except
because he was wearing a wetsuit except at that moment the one picked up out of
at that moment the one picked up out of
at that moment the one picked up out of nowhere and suddenly he was starting to
nowhere and suddenly he was starting to
nowhere and suddenly he was starting to drift further and further away and as
drift further and further away and as
drift further and further away and as hard as he could swim he just couldn’t
hard as he could swim he just couldn’t
hard as he could swim he just couldn’t make it back to the boat and suddenly a
make it back to the boat and suddenly a
make it back to the boat and suddenly a totally normal day on the water became
totally normal day on the water became
totally normal day on the water became one of the worst days of their lives
one of the worst days of their lives
one of the worst days of their lives the time my friend didn’t have a radio
the time my friend didn’t have a radio
the time my friend didn’t have a radio on him so he couldn’t call the Coast
on him so he couldn’t call the Coast
on him so he couldn’t call the Coast Guard or 9-1-1 so he was left helpless
Guard or 9-1-1 so he was left helpless
Guard or 9-1-1 so he was left helpless as his friend drifted further away
as his friend drifted further away
as his friend drifted further away really dire situation but thankfully
really dire situation but thankfully
really dire situation but thankfully there was a passing wind surfer who had
there was a passing wind surfer who had
there was a passing wind surfer who had a quite a radio on him called in the
a quite a radio on him called in the
a quite a radio on him called in the Coast Guard about 25 minutes later we
Coast Guard about 25 minutes later we
Coast Guard about 25 minutes later we showed up with one of our small boats
showed up with one of our small boats
showed up with one of our small boats and thankfully we found him shortly
and thankfully we found him shortly
and thankfully we found him shortly thereafter clinging for dear life to a
thereafter clinging for dear life to a
thereafter clinging for dear life to a buoy he just had hypothermia and it
buoy he just had hypothermia and it
buoy he just had hypothermia and it could have been so much worse now when
could have been so much worse now when
could have been so much worse now when my friend tells me this story there are
my friend tells me this story there are
my friend tells me this story there are two things that stand out from that day
two things that stand out from that day
two things that stand out from that day the first one is this sense of relief
the first one is this sense of relief
the first one is this sense of relief that he felt when he found out his
that he felt when he found out his
that he felt when he found out his friend had been rescued he wasn’t going
friend had been rescued he wasn’t going
friend had been rescued he wasn’t going to his best friend’s funeral later on
to his best friend’s funeral later on
to his best friend’s funeral later on the other thing he describes to me is
the other thing he describes to me is
the other thing he describes to me is this sense of helplessness that he felt
this sense of helplessness that he felt
this sense of helplessness that he felt before he could call the Coast Guard the
before he could call the Coast Guard the
before he could call the Coast Guard the Coast Guard prides itself in never
Coast Guard prides itself in never
Coast Guard prides itself in never letting any call go unanswered that were
letting any call go unanswered that were
letting any call go unanswered that were always always ready ready to answer the
always always ready ready to answer the
always always ready ready to answer the call
call
call except he couldn’t make that call in the
except he couldn’t make that call in the
except he couldn’t make that call in the first place and as I’ve reflected on
first place and as I’ve reflected on
first place and as I’ve reflected on this I think it highlights just how much
this I think it highlights just how much
this I think it highlights just how much our search and rescue mission has
our search and rescue mission has
our search and rescue mission has changed over the last 20 years 20 years
changed over the last 20 years 20 years
changed over the last 20 years 20 years ago we would have respond to this case
ago we would have respond to this case
ago we would have respond to this case differently than we did on that day and
differently than we did on that day and
differently than we did on that day and in particular the search component of
in particular the search component of
in particular the search component of that search and rescue mission is
that search and rescue mission is
that search and rescue mission is rapidly evolving
rapidly evolving
rapidly evolving now when I say search I mean the process
now when I say search I mean the process
now when I say search I mean the process of figuring out where a survivor is
of figuring out where a survivor is
of figuring out where a survivor is whether that’s a hurricane survivor
whether that’s a hurricane survivor
whether that’s a hurricane survivor maybe a kayaker a sinking vessel this is
maybe a kayaker a sinking vessel this is
maybe a kayaker a sinking vessel this is rapidly changing I think the perfect
rapidly changing I think the perfect
rapidly changing I think the perfect example that highlights just how much
example that highlights just how much
example that highlights just how much this evolution has taken place is
this evolution has taken place is
this evolution has taken place is compare your responses from hurricanes
compare your responses from hurricanes
compare your responses from hurricanes Katrina sir Hurricane Harvey last year
Katrina sir Hurricane Harvey last year
Katrina sir Hurricane Harvey last year and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina the Coast Guard is credited with saving
the Coast Guard is credited with saving
the Coast Guard is credited with saving over 30,000 lives 13 years ago we did
over 30,000 lives 13 years ago we did
over 30,000 lives 13 years ago we did what we do best
what we do best
what we do best we sent every helicopter every flood
we sent every helicopter every flood
we sent every helicopter every flood team every small boat that we had and we
team every small boat that we had and we
team every small boat that we had and we began plucking people off of rooftops we
began plucking people off of rooftops we
began plucking people off of rooftops we pride ourselves in being semper paratus
pride ourselves in being semper paratus
pride ourselves in being semper paratus always ready and for those 30,000 lives
always ready and for those 30,000 lives
always ready and for those 30,000 lives that we touched we were their guardian
that we touched we were their guardian
that we touched we were their guardian angels I think it’s important to note
angels I think it’s important to note
angels I think it’s important to note that 13 years ago the world we lived in
that 13 years ago the world we lived in
that 13 years ago the world we lived in was pretty different compared to today
was pretty different compared to today
was pretty different compared to today that whole smartphone smartphone thing
that whole smartphone smartphone thing
that whole smartphone smartphone thing that wasn’t around for another two years
that wasn’t around for another two years
that wasn’t around for another two years Facebook was snowless infancy so the
Facebook was snowless infancy so the
Facebook was snowless infancy so the whole idea of posting to social media
whole idea of posting to social media
whole idea of posting to social media wasn’t really a concept
wasn’t really a concept
wasn’t really a concept fast forward to today and that has some
fast forward to today and that has some
fast forward to today and that has some pretty broad implications for the way
pretty broad implications for the way
pretty broad implications for the way that the Coast Guard and other first
that the Coast Guard and other first
that the Coast Guard and other first responders do their mission how they
responders do their mission how they
responders do their mission how they respond to disaster situations so when I
respond to disaster situations so when I
respond to disaster situations so when I got to the Academy I decided to start
got to the Academy I decided to start
got to the Academy I decided to start exploring the implications of these
exploring the implications of these
exploring the implications of these changes I decided to merge my two my
changes I decided to merge my two my
changes I decided to merge my two my passions for technology and for saving
passions for technology and for saving
passions for technology and for saving lives and I I decided to start taking a
lives and I I decided to start taking a
lives and I I decided to start taking a look at the implications that social
look at the implications that social
look at the implications that social media has for the way the Coast Guard
media has for the way the Coast Guard
media has for the way the Coast Guard does Disaster Response come to find out
does Disaster Response come to find out
does Disaster Response come to find out the Coast Guard actually hasn’t been
the Coast Guard actually hasn’t been
the Coast Guard actually hasn’t been trained in how do you respond to a 911
trained in how do you respond to a 911
trained in how do you respond to a 911 post so if you’re a hurricane survivor
post so if you’re a hurricane survivor
post so if you’re a hurricane survivor trapped on a roof somewhere posting a
trapped on a roof somewhere posting a
trapped on a roof somewhere posting a facebook saying hey I need rescuing we
facebook saying hey I need rescuing we
facebook saying hey I need rescuing we haven’t had a traditional means of
haven’t had a traditional means of
haven’t had a traditional means of answering those calls so I knew that by
answering those calls so I knew that by
answering those calls so I knew that by the time the next storm the next
the time the next storm the next
the time the next storm the next hurricane maybe the next earthquake
hurricane maybe the next earthquake
hurricane maybe the next earthquake rolled around we need to figure out a
rolled around we need to figure out a
rolled around we need to figure out a way to monitor social media so that the
way to monitor social media so that the
way to monitor social media so that the next storm that ended up taking post was
next storm that ended up taking post was
next storm that ended up taking post was hurricane Harvey hurricane Harvey was
hurricane Harvey hurricane Harvey was
hurricane Harvey hurricane Harvey was something of a perfect storm in that it
something of a perfect storm in that it
something of a perfect storm in that it came out of nowhere so suddenly it grew
came out of nowhere so suddenly it grew
came out of nowhere so suddenly it grew from a tropical storm to a category 4
from a tropical storm to a category 4
from a tropical storm to a category 4 hurricane virtually overnight leaving
hurricane virtually overnight leaving
hurricane virtually overnight leaving the city of Houston with virtually no
the city of Houston with virtually no
the city of Houston with virtually no time to to evacuate you know when the
time to to evacuate you know when the
time to to evacuate you know when the storm made landfall it virtually thought
storm made landfall it virtually thought
storm made landfall it virtually thought over over Houston so we have tens of
over over Houston so we have tens of
over over Houston so we have tens of thousands of people trapped in the city
thousands of people trapped in the city
thousands of people trapped in the city of Houston and then suddenly a four feet
of Houston and then suddenly a four feet
of Houston and then suddenly a four feet of water dumped on the city pretty bad
of water dumped on the city pretty bad
of water dumped on the city pretty bad situation right so I want you to picture
situation right so I want you to picture
situation right so I want you to picture this you are you’ve been forced onto
this you are you’ve been forced onto
this you are you’ve been forced onto your roof you’re out in the freezing
your roof you’re out in the freezing
your roof you’re out in the freezing cold rain and you’ve been on hold with
cold rain and you’ve been on hold with
cold rain and you’ve been on hold with nine one four four six maybe eight hours
nine one four four six maybe eight hours
nine one four four six maybe eight hours but you haven’t been able to reach 9-1-1
but you haven’t been able to reach 9-1-1
but you haven’t been able to reach 9-1-1 what are you gonna do I’d be willing to
what are you gonna do I’d be willing to
what are you gonna do I’d be willing to pay you’re gonna post to social media
pay you’re gonna post to social media
pay you’re gonna post to social media whether that’s Facebook Twitter maybe
whether that’s Facebook Twitter maybe
whether that’s Facebook Twitter maybe even Instagram because maybe you can’t
even Instagram because maybe you can’t
even Instagram because maybe you can’t reach 911 but a family member a friend
reach 911 but a family member a friend
reach 911 but a family member a friend can and I knew because of my research
can and I knew because of my research
can and I knew because of my research that this was probably a scenario that
that this was probably a scenario that
that this was probably a scenario that was going to play out thousands of times
was going to play out thousands of times
was going to play out thousands of times across the city of Houston and that’s
across the city of Houston and that’s
across the city of Houston and that’s exactly what happened and I felt a moral
exactly what happened and I felt a moral
exactly what happened and I felt a moral obligation the sense of
obligation the sense of
obligation the sense of duty to do something so I began working
duty to do something so I began working
duty to do something so I began working with this organization called the
with this organization called the
with this organization called the digital humanitarian network the DHN is
digital humanitarian network the DHN is
digital humanitarian network the DHN is this collaborative network of mapping
this collaborative network of mapping
this collaborative network of mapping social media experts from around the
social media experts from around the
social media experts from around the world and they’re all volunteers and
world and they’re all volunteers and
world and they’re all volunteers and they’ll come out of the Woodworks during
they’ll come out of the Woodworks during
they’ll come out of the Woodworks during disaster responses to start combing
disaster responses to start combing
disaster responses to start combing through social media looking for exactly
through social media looking for exactly
through social media looking for exactly that information those 911 posts so
that information those 911 posts so
that information those 911 posts so begin working with them and creating the
begin working with them and creating the
begin working with them and creating the Maps like the ones you see behind me one
Maps like the ones you see behind me one
Maps like the ones you see behind me one of the things that I learnt very early
of the things that I learnt very early
of the things that I learnt very early on in this response is data needs to
on in this response is data needs to
on in this response is data needs to tell a story just bulk 9-1-1 calls is
tell a story just bulk 9-1-1 calls is
tell a story just bulk 9-1-1 calls is great but i’m sorry to say this but we
great but i’m sorry to say this but we
great but i’m sorry to say this but we had no shortage of 911 calls 911 calls
had no shortage of 911 calls 911 calls
had no shortage of 911 calls 911 calls to respond to this was the story that we
to respond to this was the story that we
to respond to this was the story that we told we were sending these maps across
told we were sending these maps across
told we were sending these maps across the service and to other first
the service and to other first
the service and to other first responders including FEMA and other
responders including FEMA and other
responders including FEMA and other local fire departments so flood teams
local fire departments so flood teams
local fire departments so flood teams were getting this hurricane task force
were getting this hurricane task force
were getting this hurricane task force is we’re getting them helicopter pilots
is we’re getting them helicopter pilots
is we’re getting them helicopter pilots Admirals Intel units they were all using
Admirals Intel units they were all using
Admirals Intel units they were all using this to answer strategic level questions
this to answer strategic level questions
this to answer strategic level questions now when I say strategic level questions
now when I say strategic level questions
now when I say strategic level questions I mean if you’re a helicopter pilot you
I mean if you’re a helicopter pilot you
I mean if you’re a helicopter pilot you have no shortage of calls to respond to
have no shortage of calls to respond to
have no shortage of calls to respond to how are you going to do the most good
how are you going to do the most good
how are you going to do the most good that’s a really important question to
that’s a really important question to
that’s a really important question to answer and this is how you answer it
answer and this is how you answer it
answer and this is how you answer it throughout the course of this week I
throughout the course of this week I
throughout the course of this week I knew our search and rescue mission was
knew our search and rescue mission was
knew our search and rescue mission was beginning to evolve previously the Coast
beginning to evolve previously the Coast
beginning to evolve previously the Coast Guard hadn’t been trained in how do you
Guard hadn’t been trained in how do you
Guard hadn’t been trained in how do you respond to these 911 posts but crisis is
respond to these 911 posts but crisis is
respond to these 911 posts but crisis is the best catalyst for innovation and we
the best catalyst for innovation and we
the best catalyst for innovation and we were innovating by the end of this week
were innovating by the end of this week
were innovating by the end of this week we’d collected over a thousand search
we’d collected over a thousand search
we’d collected over a thousand search and rescue cases involving 5200
and rescue cases involving 5200
and rescue cases involving 5200 survivors and by the end of the response
survivors and by the end of the response
survivors and by the end of the response the Coast Guard was credited with over
the Coast Guard was credited with over
the Coast Guard was credited with over saving over 11,000 lives pretty amazing
saving over 11,000 lives pretty amazing
saving over 11,000 lives pretty amazing stuff
stuff
stuff each of these stats are powerful but the
each of these stats are powerful but the
each of these stats are powerful but the moment where this hit me in particular
moment where this hit me in particular
moment where this hit me in particular was with one case in particular we got a
was with one case in particular we got a
was with one case in particular we got a three year old girl who was on a
three year old girl who was on a
three year old girl who was on a ventilator in your house who just lost
ventilator in your house who just lost
ventilator in your house who just lost power and sure her family had been on
power and sure her family had been on
power and sure her family had been on hold with 911 for four hours we watched
hold with 911 for four hours we watched
hold with 911 for four hours we watched as her story was retweeted thousands of
as her story was retweeted thousands of
as her story was retweeted thousands of times in the span of a few hours
times in the span of a few hours
times in the span of a few hours and eventually she was rescued by first
and eventually she was rescued by first
and eventually she was rescued by first responders because of this really
responders because of this really
responders because of this really powerful stuff and I think what I took
powerful stuff and I think what I took
powerful stuff and I think what I took out of this is just how important it is
out of this is just how important it is
out of this is just how important it is for us the first responders to stay on
for us the first responders to stay on
for us the first responders to stay on this pulse of technology to stay on the
this pulse of technology to stay on the
this pulse of technology to stay on the cutting edge of technology and to change
cutting edge of technology and to change
cutting edge of technology and to change with the world around us when I look at
with the world around us when I look at
with the world around us when I look at the future of disaster response I don’t
the future of disaster response I don’t
the future of disaster response I don’t think it’s ever been brighter I think
think it’s ever been brighter I think
think it’s ever been brighter I think that the 21st century is going to be
that the 21st century is going to be
that the 21st century is going to be different driven by artificial
different driven by artificial
different driven by artificial intelligence machine learning data
intelligence machine learning data
intelligence machine learning data analytics deep learning and each of
analytics deep learning and each of
analytics deep learning and each of these technologies holds immense
these technologies holds immense
these technologies holds immense potential for those whose lives are on
potential for those whose lives are on
potential for those whose lives are on the line we can use artificial
the line we can use artificial
the line we can use artificial intelligence to automate 911 operators
intelligence to automate 911 operators
intelligence to automate 911 operators so those four six eight hour waiting
so those four six eight hour waiting
so those four six eight hour waiting times those go away entirely we can use
times those go away entirely we can use
times those go away entirely we can use deep learning to automate the process of
deep learning to automate the process of
deep learning to automate the process of analyzing drone and satellite imagery
analyzing drone and satellite imagery
analyzing drone and satellite imagery you could paint a picture like we’ve
you could paint a picture like we’ve
you could paint a picture like we’ve never had before but I think what I’m
never had before but I think what I’m
never had before but I think what I’m most excited about is the idea of being
most excited about is the idea of being
most excited about is the idea of being able to predict where those
able to predict where those
able to predict where those search-and-rescue cases are going to
search-and-rescue cases are going to
search-and-rescue cases are going to come from I’d be willing to bet there’s
come from I’d be willing to bet there’s
come from I’d be willing to bet there’s some sort of a pattern up there that we
some sort of a pattern up there that we
some sort of a pattern up there that we could use to protect we’re searching
could use to protect we’re searching
could use to protect we’re searching rescue cases are going to come from that
rescue cases are going to come from that
rescue cases are going to come from that saves lives and if this doesn’t get you
saves lives and if this doesn’t get you
saves lives and if this doesn’t get you excited about the future of Disaster
excited about the future of Disaster
excited about the future of Disaster Response frankly I don’t know what will
when I look at this future though I it’s
when I look at this future though I it’s gonna be hard to create like change is
gonna be hard to create like change is
gonna be hard to create like change is hard change takes time but we have to
hard change takes time but we have to
hard change takes time but we have to remember that there’s nothing more noble
remember that there’s nothing more noble
remember that there’s nothing more noble than saving lives we have a sacred job
than saving lives we have a sacred job
than saving lives we have a sacred job and that’s something we need to remember
and that’s something we need to remember
and that’s something we need to remember every single day the word emergency
every single day the word emergency
every single day the word emergency comes from emerge to rise up and out of
comes from emerge to rise up and out of
comes from emerge to rise up and out of I believe that out of the rubble the
I believe that out of the rubble the
I believe that out of the rubble the ashes the flooding the very best in each
ashes the flooding the very best in each
ashes the flooding the very best in each of us emerges it’s my mission to stay on
of us emerges it’s my mission to stay on
of us emerges it’s my mission to stay on the pulse of technology so when the next
the pulse of technology so when the next
the pulse of technology so when the next disaster strikes the Coast Guard is
disaster strikes the Coast Guard is
disaster strikes the Coast Guard is semper paratus
semper paratus
semper paratus always ready thank you
always ready thank you
always ready thank you you
you
you [Music]
”
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