Welcome to Kaleena Barnes, who joined CIRCAC in July through the Department of Defense SkillBridge program. Born and raised in Alaska, Kaleena joined the U.S. Coast Guard after one year of college at the University of Hawaii at Hilo with the intentions of serving four years. Twenty years later, Chief Kaleena Barnes is returning home with a bachelor’s in biology, Masters in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, certified Maritime Port Executive, qualified ICS instructor and recipient of the Coast Guard founder Alexander Hamilton Preparedness Award. 

The SkillBridge program “provides an invaluable chance to work and learn in civilian career areas. For industry partners, DOD SkillBridge is an opportunity to access and leverage the world’s most highly trained and motivated workforce at no cost. Service members participating in DOD SkillBridge programs continue receiving their military compensation and benefits, while industry partners provide the civilian training and work experience.”

We are happy to have Kaleena on board and are excited to see her merge nearly two decades as a Marine Science Technician and Federal regulator of the Oil Pollution Act with her heritage, career and passion for prevention and emergency management.