Captain Futch serves as the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. In this capacity she oversees all faculty and staff administration, development, and human resources needs in the Academic Division. Captain Futch coordinates hiring, evaluations, promotions, training, and assignments. She also serves as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Permanent Commissioned Teaching Staff (PCTS) program manager.

Prior to serving as the Vice Provost, Captain Futch served as the Associate Dean for the School of Science, Mathematics, and the Humanities, the largest of the three Schools. The School hosts the Government, Operations Research and Data Analytics, and Marine & Environmental Sciences majors as well as the Geospatial Intelligence Certificate and Intelligence & National Security minor programs. The School of Science, Mathematics, and the Humanities also oversees most of the core curriculum.

Captain Futch’s previous assignments at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy as a PCTS officer include Program Chair for Marine & Environmental Sciences, Department Head of Marine Science, and Marine Science Instructor. During these assignments Captain Futch qualified as a Deck Watch Officer on USCGC EAGLE. She has supported USCGC EAGLE’s cadet training program on eleven different summer training periods. Prior to selection as a member of the PCTS, Captain Futch served as the Operations Officer on USCGC MAPLE in Sitka, Alaska, and Deck Watch Officer on USCGC SEQUOIA and USCGA SASSAFRAS in Apra Harbor, Guam.

Education

• Ph.D., Physical Oceanography, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2019
• M.S., Physical Oceanography, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2009
• B.S., Marine and Environmental Sciences, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 2003

Courses Taught

• Marine Forecasting
• Polar Oceanography
• Waves and Tides
• Ocean Dynamics
• Clouds
• Oceans 1 & 2
• Operation Blue Ocean Capstone
• Leeway Capstone

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Futch, V., A. Allen (2019) Search and Rescue Applications: On the Need to Improve Ocean Observing Data Systems in Offshore or Remote Locations, Frontiers in Marine Science, June 2019.
• Brushett, B., A. Allen, V. Futch, et al. (2014) Determining the leeway drift characteristics of tropical Pacific island craft, Applied Ocean Research, January 2014.

Honors and Awards

• USCGA Provost Award for Service
• Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal
• Coast Guard Commendation Medal

Professional Affiliations

• ELATES Fellow