Donald Huegel

Sector San Francisco is a United States Coast Guard unit responsible for maritime safety, security, and environmental protection in the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding Northern California waters. Established in 2004 as part of the Coast Guard’s sector reorganization, it combined the responsibilities of several legacy units, including the former Marine Safety Office San Francisco Bay and Group San Francisco. The unit oversees search and rescue operations, vessel inspections, pollution response, and port security across one of the nation’s busiest and most strategically important harbors. Sector San Francisco has played a critical role in safeguarding maritime commerce, responding to environmental incidents, and supporting national security initiatives in the region.

The ATON Group San Francisco, short for Aids to Navigation Group San Francisco, is a United States Coast Guard unit responsible for maintaining and servicing navigational aids throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding Pacific coastline. Established to ensure maritime safety in one of the nation’s busiest and most challenging waterways, the unit’s history stretches back to the early 20th century when reliable navigation became critical to the region’s commercial and military operations. Over the decades, ATON Group San Francisco has played a vital role during wartime mobilizations, peacetime commerce, and disaster response, continually upgrading its capabilities to include modern electronic and physical navigation systems. Today, the unit’s dedicated crews maintain buoys, beacons, and lights, supporting safe passage for thousands of vessels annually and upholding the Coast Guard’s mission of maritime safety and security.