U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) delivered remarks Friday at the official ribbon cutting for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Enlisted Training Center of Excellence at Birmingham-Southern College, marking the culmination of months of work to bring the facility to Alabama.
Britt was joined at the ceremony by DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), and former BSC President Daniel Coleman.
“This is an incredible day, and it’s an honor to join you here on the Hilltop to celebrate this historic day for Birmingham-Southern and for our community,” Britt said. “Everyone here knows how critical Alabama is to our national defense, our military capabilities, and our national security.”
Britt dedicated a significant portion of her speech to the legacy of Birmingham-Southern, which opened in 1918 and traces its roots to 1856 through its predecessor, Southern University. The college closed in 2024 after 168 years of operation. Britt pledged that the Coast Guard Birmingham-Southern campus will preserve the school’s name and branding.
“The Coast Guard’s acquisition of BSC is a continuation of its historic legacy,” Britt said. “To ensure that this incredible legacy is going to continue for our most courageous Americans, we are going to make sure that Birmingham-Southern logo continues to be branded and preserved around campus.”
Britt also thanked Secretary Mullin for his leadership at DHS and highlighted her role as chair of the Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee in connecting local, state, and federal leaders to make the facility a reality.
Thousands of Coast Guard members are expected to travel through Birmingham annually for training, bringing an economic boost to local businesses. The facility is estimated to save taxpayers millions by using an already-built campus rather than constructing from scratch.
Sawyer Knowles is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
