Command Duty Officer - U.S. Coast guard photo
Summary
MIAMI -- Coast Guard civilian employee Nancy Nelsen, a command duty officer in the Seventh District Command Center, makes notes during a phone conversation Oct. 17, 2007. The CDO is the senior person on watch in the district's command center and is responsible for overseeing the execution of search and rescue operations, law enforcement activities and integration of intelligence information during their 12-hour watches. Unlike their military counterparts who rotate assignments every three to four years, Coast Guard civilian employees remain at the command center, providing continuity and a wealth of experience and local knowledge. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Lt. Cmdr. C. T. O'Neil)