US Coast Guard Sector Anchorage name changed to Sector Western Atlantic and US Arctic

The USCG renamed its main Alaskan sector to reflect greater importance on Arctic patrols, many of which are deployed from Kodiak (pictured here), which is being upgraded. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

The US Coast Guard (USCG) changed the name of Coast Guard Sector Anchorage to Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and US Arctic, the USCG confirmed on 17 July.

While Sector Western Alaska and US Arctic is physically located on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, near Anchorage, the name was updated to reflect the unit's geographic area of operations, USCG officials said.

“Sector Western Alaska and US Arctic personnel carry out Coast Guard statutory missions throughout the state, to include the Aleutian Islands, the North Slope, the Interior, and to our borders with Russia and Canada,” Captain Christopher Culpepper, commander of Sector Western Alaska and US Arctic, said in a statement.

Many of the USCG assets meant to protect the border with Russia are deployed from Kodiak, which serves as the farthest northern permanent US naval facility. Kodiak port facilities are being upgraded and expanded for more capable USCG platforms.

USCG ships and aircraft patrolling Arctic and sub-Arctic waters have also tracked Chinese warships transiting the region.

For information about the most recent incident, please seeUS Coast Guard tracks more Chinese naval ships in Bering Sea .

“By updating the name, the coastguard clarifies that the unit serves a broader public beyond the Anchorage bowl and the change better aligns with the captain of the port zone as outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations,” Capt Culpepper said.