Bob Albert This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. The Grand Haven Tribune - City Guide for Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and the West Michigan Lake Shore

   www.grandhaventribune.com/paid - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/9/2005   Last Visited: 7/9/2005

   Sulski, who comes to Grand Haven after being aboard Cutter Steadfast homeported in Astoria, Ore., replaces Chief Warrant Officer Bob Albert as the station's chief.
   ...
   Albert, who served as the Station Grand Haven chief for four years, is moving to Miami, Fla. where he will be the interagency coordinator for the Coast Guard's 7th District Office of Law Enforcement beginning July 25.
   
   "My primary focus will be working with all federal and local law enforcement agencies in the southeast United States with regard to drug and migrant interdiction," Albert, 42, said. "I won't be out there doing it, but I'm part of a team command structure."
   
   Initially, Albert was to be reassigned to Station Charleviox since his term at the Grand Haven Station was to expire this summer; however, in April he was offered the officer promotion in Miami and accepted it that day. His wife of 18 years, Kimberly, and 10-year-old son, Jesse, look forward to the "adventure," he said.
   
   "We've warmed up to the idea about moving to Florida. I look forward to not having to shovel snow," Albert joked. "To serve as an officer in charge is one of the greatest honors bestowed on us , there's a tremendous sense of satisfaction. This is yet another opportunity that I couldn't say no. For me, it'll open doors , possibly to retirement , and it'll make my resume even better. I look forward to it."
   
   When Albert started as chief of Station Grand Haven in June 2001, he was responsible for 19 men and women. He now leaves behind a crew of 26.
   
   "I'm sad that I'll be missing (this year's) Coast Guard Festival. I've never felt so moved every time we go through the memorial service," Albert said.
   ...
   While Albert has witnessed a great sense of community throughout his years in Grand Haven, he has seen seven people lose their lives. The memories of being part of a rescue team during a series of tragedies in Grand Haven will stay with Albert, even hundreds of miles away from the Great Lakes.
   
   "The hardest thing I've had to deal with were the three drownings in 2003 , one of which happened not even one mile from my office. And despite every attempt to come to their aid, we could not save them," Albert said, referring to the August 2003 drowning of 17-year-old Scott Allen Smith, of Norton Shores; the September 2003 drowning of 17-year-old Andy Burton Fox, of Grand Haven; and the November 2003 drowning of 19-year-old Daniel Luke Reiss, of Grand Haven.
   ...
   "I wish him the best of luck," Sulski said of Albert.
   ...
   Albert said his tour , or term , in Grand Haven has been one of the most memorable among the Coast Guard.

2. 2. The Grand Haven Tribune - City Guide for Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and the West Michigan Lake Shore

   www.grandhaventribune.com/cgi- - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/22/2003   Last Visited: 7/22/2003

   Under the charge of Chief Robert Albert, it is one of eight similar operations, which are all part of the larger Group Grand Haven, comprised of stations from Michigan City, Indiana all the way north to Frankfurt, Michigan.
   
   "We are multi-mission," Albert said, "and when the waters get busy, we want to work smarter, not harder."
   ...
   Within these boundaries, Chief Albert and his crew are accountable for patrols, search and rescues, and law enforcement. "We would like to think that our efforts are making a difference," Albert said.
   
   On a national level, the United States Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security, and while it is made up of only approximately 38,000 members, the Coast Guard is responsible for every inch of the United States coastline.
   
   This philosophy, which stresses efficiency, is central to Station Grand Haven, as well as to the Coast Guard as a whole.
   
   "The citizens of Lake Michigan are reliant on our services and our boats to be ready if something were to go wrong, and so our number one focus is the upkeep of our response boats, but in order to that, we need good people," Albert said.
   
   The people he speaks of, serving now at Station Grand Haven, are a diverse group, coming from all over the United States with all different backgrounds and areas of expertise. Most crew members spend four years in Grand Haven, where responsibilities can range from boat and building maintenance to operating in the Coast Guard's air community.
   
   "Everyone has their own ways to contribute and their own standards," Albert said.
   
   Although he has been in the service for 22 years and has been stationed all over the country, Albert says that there is something special about the time he is spending in Grand Haven.
   
   "It is a very distinct honor to be here," he said. "We fully support the community in its efforts to carry on the traditions of Coast Guard City USA."
   
   "We want there to be the best possible ending to whatever the situation is that's going on," Albert said.
   
   In order to ensure that a day spent on the water ends happily, Chief Albert offers several important pieces of advice to boaters in the Grand Haven area and beyond.
   
   First and foremost, Albert warns boaters to be aware of the possibility for changing weather. "Weather is the number one concern when boating," he said. "The sky can be clear, and then suddenly 45 knot winds can come out of nowhere."
   
   In addition, Albert advises boaters to always have the appropriate lifejackets not only on the boat, but also on the boaters. "They don't work if you're not wearing them," he said.
   
   Using common sense can also save boaters from hassle and danger. Last year, for example, Grand Haven Coast Guard members had to retrieve more than a dozen grounded boats and their passengers because the boats were being operated in unmarked areas of the channel.
   
   Because simply following the designated channel routes can usually prevent accidents like this, Albert strongly urges all mariners to stay within the marked channels and to obey the buoy systems.
   
   While he and his crew are always ready to dispel advice and enforce proper rules of boating safety, Chief Albert notes that boaters in the Tri-Cities area do tend to take appropriate boating precautions.
   
   In 2002, for example, Station Grand Haven randomly checked 364 boats for appropriate compliance with boating rules and federal laws, and of those stopped, the vast majority was prepared.
   
   While the Coast Guard members certainly have their work cut out for them in the upcoming weeks, it seems that their efforts are paying off, and that Tri-Cities boaters are complying.
   
   "I've seen a lot, and compared to some others, the boaters in the Grand Haven area are more aware of boating practices and principles," Albert said.