Following hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Allen served as principal federal official for response and recovery operations. After Sept. 11, 2001, he led the Coast Guard as commander of the Atlantic area and U.S. Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic.

He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1971. Among his personal awards, Allen was the first recipient of the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal and has been awarded three Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medals and the Legion of Merit. He is originally from Tucson, Ariz., but it was an Alaska connection he shared Tuesday: Allen, whose father also served in the Coast Guard, attended grade school in Ketchikan in the 1950s.

"Been there, done that, couldn't afford the T-shirt," he said.

During this visit to Alaska, Allen will visit Nome, Prudhoe Bay, Red Dog Mine, the North Slope and Healy in an attempt to become familiar with issues relating to the arctic.

The reorganization and modernization of the Coast Guard were among topics Allen addressed while in Homer. These efforts are designed to improve mission success and help the Coast Guard adapt to new maritime challenges. Specifically, Allen mentioned delivery this year of the 418-foot Bertholf and Waesche, two of eight National Security Cutters that will replace high endurance cutters that were put into service in the 1960s.

The first upgraded HC-130J, a long-range surveillance maritime patrol aircraft, also was delivered to the Coast Guard this year, another step toward modernization. It is one of six the Coast Guard has purchased.

Reorganization and modernization "will help us do our job better," Allen said.

To the active duty personnel in attendance he said, "The real onus is on us to make sure we get the proper support to you."

To the auxiliary, he said, "I don't know what we would do without you. You are a force multiplier."

Among questions responded to by Allen, Master Chief Petty Officer Skip Bowen, who was traveling with Allen from Washington, D.C., and Admiral Arthur E. Brooks from District 17, Juneau, was a request for an update on Rescue 21, a program to improve communication, command and control capabilities in coastal areas. The program gets its name from a volunteer emergency response nonprofit organization formed in Homer prior to the establishment of a local Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla.

"Thank you for letting us borrow the name," Allen said, adding that in spite of geographic challenges in Alaska, the program is making possible increased communication coverage in Shelikof Strait, Bristol Bay and the Kuskokwim area, with enhanced capabilities also in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska.

After answering questions from the audience, Allen closed by saying, "I'd like you all to do something when you leave here."

Referring to the Coast Guard's "Guardian Ethos," a commitment, in part, to protect, defend, save and be a shield for all citizens of the United States, Allen asked those present to be each other's guardian.

"Can we afford to lose a Coastie? No we can't," he said.

"It's devastating to the Coast Guard. It's devastating to families. ... We have to apply the Guardian Ethos to each other."

That mindfulness of others echoed comments the commandant made Monday on the occasion of the Coast Guard's 218-year anniversary.

"We must also rededicate ourselves to making the Coast Guard the best it can be for those who will follow in our footsteps," Allen said.