Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin presided over a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, June 5, for the new U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Birmingham-Southern, located at the historic Birmingham-Southern College Campus in Alabama.
This new facility marks a significant step in the Coast Guard's ongoing transformation and growth, with Secretary Mullin highlighting President Trump's substantial investment in the service. "President Trump is the first president in decades to make a heavy investment in our United States Coast Guard," said Secretary Mullin, adding that over $24 billion has been allocated to revitalize the Coast Guard.
Admiral Kevin Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard, emphasized the center's role, saying, "The future of Coast Guard enlisted leadership has a new home in Birmingham." He noted that the campus represents a generational investment in the enlisted workforce. The Coast Guard acquired the campus on April 30, following a review of 32 potential sites, valuing its move-in-ready facilities. Training missions are slated to commence in late 2026, with the full transition of Force Readiness Command staff and additional schools continuing through 2028.