Category 4: Using Innovative Technologies to Deliver Simple, Seamless, and Secure Services

LINDSAY ABBOTT

Office Chief
Technical Readiness Transformation
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Lindsay Abbott is being honored in Category 4: Using Innovative Technologies to Deliver Simple, Seamless, and Secure Services for transforming how the U.S. Coast Guard designs and delivers technology by putting the needs of service members at the center of modernization. Faced with a fragmented mobility environment, Lindsay pioneered the use of Human-Centered Design (HCD), embedding teams with operational units to understand firsthand how technology could better support mission execution.

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Those insights became the foundation for the Digital Seabag program, which modernized the digital experience for Coast Guard personnel and removed technology barriers that slowed daily operations. Lindsay also established the Coast Guard’s first Technical Readiness Transformation Office (TRTO), institutionalizing human-centered design and ensuring future technology investments are driven by real operational needs rather than technology alone.

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The results demonstrate a direct connection between employee experience and public service. Digital Seabag pilot communities achieved an average 94% increase in efficiency, saving approximately 20 minutes per person per shift and reclaiming 43 administrative hours each day across 13 units. Mobile capabilities have also enabled faster, more professional law enforcement boardings and allowed personnel to dedicate more time to mission-critical responsibilities. By creating a more connected, efficient, and user-centered digital workplace, Lindsay is strengthening Coast Guard readiness and ultimately improving the service it provides to the public.