90 Proceedings Spring 2025 solutions to help the Coast Guard understand, prepare, acquire, and operationalize tomorrow’s technologies. In support of this concept, the RDC has deployed a new Very High Frequency Data Exchange System, or VDES, a next-generation Automatic Identification System, to facilitate the transmission of search-and-rescue search patterns directly to Coast Guard response assets. The RDC has also tested a new marine alerting system simi- lar to Florida’s Aqua Alert under this concept. Conclusion The RDC plans to revalidate the five research program areas on a recurring basis by leveraging the Coast Guard’s Project Evergreen program as well as other Coast Guard Headquarters strategic outlook studies. Project Evergreen is the Coast Guard’s strategic foresight program designed to identify long-term risks and oppor- tunities across many plausible futures over the next 25 years. Working with our government, industry, and aca- demic partners at a targeted Evergreen event will ensure the breadth and scope of research program focus areas remain aligned with the Coast Guard’s future opportu- nities and challenges. Strategic R&D provides long-term growth, advances technology, creates innovative solutions, provides cost- reduction efficiencies, attracts top talent, mitigates risk, and forms key partnerships. By leveraging strategic R&D, the Coast Guard can ensure it remains at the cut- ting edge of technology with our DoD service partners, is prepared to address emerging threats, and maintains a competitive advantage over potential adversaries. By remaining agile and approaching R&D in a focused and deliberate manner, the RDC can continue to remain rel- evant in a resource-constrained environment well into the future. About the author: Retired Coast Guard CAPT Al Arsenault served on active duty for 27 years, last serving as the commanding officer of the Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC). He has served in many capacities including various engineering and major acquisition project management roles. He has been a civilian at the RDC for 10 years. Coast Guard Human Research Protection Program by Judith coNNeLLy Institutional Review Board Chair Research and Development Center U.S. Coast Guard protocol package for evaluation against compliance with the 45 CFR 46 regulations and the Commandant Instruction M6500.1 (Series). Commandant Instruction M6500.1 (Series) further ensures that the rights, welfare, interests, privacy, confidentiality, and safety of human subjects is always paramount. Additionally, it states that all research projects will be conducted in a manner that avoids all unnecessary physical or psychological discom fort, and economic, social, or cultural harm. Upon completed review of formal test protocols, the IRB makes a recommenda tion to the unit commanding officer who is the official signa tory for the compliance to federal regulations. About the author: Judith Connelly has 23 years in civil service as an operations analyst, space scientist, and aerospace engineer for the Coast Guard and NASA. She holds B.A. and M.S degrees in physics from the University of New Hampshire/Lawrence Berkeley Lab. Federal regulations outline the ethical principles and guidelines for human subjects in research through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that covers the protections of human subjects in research, these regulations, policies, and guidance are enumerated in regulation 45 CFR 46. It is more commonly known as the Common Rule. This set of regula tions outlines the ethical principles of justice, respect for persons, and beneficence and includes several key provisions, such as requirements for informed consent and for ongoing monitoring to ensure the continued protection of human subjects. Each project in the RDC portfolio is assessed yearly by the RDC Institutional Review Board (IRB) using the Common Rule regulations and evaluated for level of risk. Each IRB member is certified to perform this duty per the HHS regulated training. Depending on the outcome of the RDC IRB assessment, principal investigators for projects submit a research or test
