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Operations Research and Data Analytics Careers

The ORDA major prepares cadets for success no matter what job field in the Coast Guard they enter after graduation. Equipped with a skill set with universal application to officer specialties, ORDA graduates have the ability to make a direct impact on the efficiency of their units. Graduates have been able to immediately apply an ORDA education at their cutter, sector or air station.

Civilian Opportunities

The job opportunities for ORDA majors outside the Coast Guard are nearly unlimited as operations research analysts are employed in almost every industry. Companies and organizations must effectively manage their financial, capital and human resources to be successful. That’s why prominent companies such as Disney, Facebook, FedEx, Google and countless others are relying on the computing and analysis skills of ORDA majors.

A Growing Field

Opportunities in the operations research field are expanding. Employment of operations research analysts is expected to grow by 27 percent by the year 2022, much higher than many other fields, which is a reflection of the value placed on employees with a background in operations research.

Graduate Studies

The Coast Guard recognizes the need for officers trained in the ORDA discipline, and has continually increased graduate school opportunities for ORDA majors. Recent ORDA graduates have attended some of the nation’s most prestigious graduate schools, including:

Colombia University
Georgetown University
Harvard University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Naval Postgraduate School
Stanford University
University of California-Berkeley
University of Wisconsin-Madison
College of William and Mary

Sponsor Family Application

Thank you for submitting your application to be part of the Sponsor Family Program. Your application will be processed in the upcoming week. Coast Guard Academy’s policy on background screening now requires all adults (everyone 18 and older living in the home) who volunteer to mentor, teach, coach or sponsor cadets, whether on or off Coast Guard Academy grounds, to be screened every 5 years. They are required to provide personal information (name, birth date and social security number) for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.

The Security Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, CWO2 Gina Polkowski, is overseeing this process. Her email is: Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.

Sponsor Family designations fall into several different categories. Below are the guidelines to help you determine how best to meet the background screening requirement:

If you are Coast Guard active duty you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are a Civilian working for the Coast Guard you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are non-Coast Guard Active Duty, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
If you are non-Coast Guard civilian who has a current security clearance or National Agency check, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
All civilians in the families who are 18 years or older and do not have a security clearance or a National Agency Check are required to be vetted through Mind Your Business, the third party vendor hired by the Coast Guard Academy for the vetting process.

After you complete your application, please e-mail the Sponsor Family Program Coordinator at CadetFamilySponsorProgram@uscga.edu. In your e-mail, you must include the e-mail address and phone number of every adult living in the home. The Sponsor Family Coordinator will then initiate the background check process and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Important things to note:

There is a Sponsor Family Training that is a one-hour training which we ask sponsors to attend once every four years. This training is designed to give you an overview of the program, what is expected of you as a sponsor, and what you can expect from your cadets. This training will also help familiarize you with the cadet regulations onboard CGA. You will be notified via e-mail once the training is scheduled.

The matching process of swabs to families will occur during July and August. Please bear with us and remain flexible through this process. There will be a meet and greet scheduled on Campus, typically in late August. This will give families an opportunity to formally meet their cadet if they have not already done so. Details on this will also be via email.