CAPTAIN GEOFFREY L. ABBOTT

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

Captain Geoff Abbott, earned his Bachelor of Science from the United States Coast Guard Academy and a Professional Degree and Masters Degree in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After several operational and engineering assignments, Geoff served as Facilities Engineer at Coast Guard’s Training Center in Cape May, NJ and as Commanding Officer of Civil Engineering Unit Providence, RI, responsible for Coast Guard facilities in the northeast. Geoff then served as Executive Assistant to the Coast Guard’s Chief Engineer and Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard's Research and Development Center in Groton, CT. Most recently Geoff worked for the Coast Guard’s Vice-Commandant and Chief of Staff, overseeing the Coast Guard’s Performance Excellence Program; coordinating meetings and conferences for Coast Guard executives; and serving as Chairman of the Coast Guard’s Innovation Council. In April 2005, Geoff became the first Visiting Senior Fellow at the Homeland Security Institute, focusing on technological solutions and policy issues concerning Homeland Security. Captain Abbott recently joined National Defense Industry Association’s Homeland Security Executive Committee.

Geoff is a Registered Professional Engineer in Virginia. He served as a national director for the 25,000 member Society of American Military Engineers during 2000-2003 and was inducted into SAME’s Academy of Fellows in 2001.

Captain Abbott’s military awards include four Meritorious Service Medals, two Commendation Medals and an Achievement Medal. He is an Excellence in Government Senior Fellow and serves on the Senior Fellows Board of Leaders for the Council for Excellence in Government. Geoff also co-coached 25 Excellence in Government Fellows (GS14/15) from 15 federal agencies. In 1999 he received the Vice-President’s Hammer Award for innovative real property practices in the disposal and sale of Coast Guard housing in Boston.

Geoff’s passions include: Leading change, growing leaders, creating innovative partnerships and culture, and integrating people, technology, systems and policy to develop and implement solutions.