Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin attends ribbon cutting of the new Coast Guard school on the old Birmingham Southern campus

June 5, 2026 – Birmingham, Ala. – The United States Coast Guard held its ribbon cutting for their new Training Center on the campus of what used to be Birmingham Southern College. Some of the many dignitaries at the event included Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Senator Tommy Tuberville, Senator Katie Britt, Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-Selma), Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, U.S. Attorney Phil Williams, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard – Admiral Kevin Lunday.

The Coast Guard's new Training Center Birmingham-Southern will be the Home of the Enlisted Training Center of Excellence for Coast Guard enlisted people who need hours of classroom instruction on how best perform their mission. Most people think of the Coast Guard as a branch of the armed services; but during peacetime the Coast Guard is actually under the Department of Homeland Security. During wartime the Coast Guard transfers to the War Department. The Coast Guard has both a defense mission and a crucial law enforcement role.

Birmingham Southern College closed two years ago due to plummeting enrollment and growing financial insolvency.

Secretary Mullin said, "Thank you so much for welcoming the Coast Guard."

"The Coast Guard protects our shores and to think I could be part of this is an honor," said Mullin. "We want to be in a place like this. Speaking for the military as a whole we want to be where we are wanted. We are going to be here for a very long time."

Mullin – a former Republican Senator from Oklahoma – praised President Donald J. Trump (R) for making this day possible.

"President Trum is the first President in decades who has taken a very big investment in our Coast Guard," said Mullin. "He has made a $26 billion investment into the Coast Guard and we couldn't get it done without this campus."

Mullin said that the Coast Guard only has one ice cutter, while the Russians have 49. The goal is for the U.S. to have 50.

Mullin said that members of the military – including the Coast Guard – will receive a seven percent pay raise in the Defense bill that passed the Senate early that same morning.

"Senator Britt and Senator Tuberville were up all night to get that passed," said Mullin. "The next job for Coach Tuberville (referring to Tuberville's campaign for Governor) is going to be partnering with us to make sure that this campus thrives."

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) said, "We are here to welcome a new winner to our state."

"Birmingham Southern has been here a long time," said Tuberville. "This is not the end of Birmingham Southern we are just changing the curriculum and the courses. We are excited. Birmingham is excited. I want to thank someone and that is President Donald J. Trump. He is why we are here today."

"It came as a very good price for our country," said Tuberville. "Now we have this. This huge move of winners coming to our state. Winners that will be here long after we are gone."

"In my next job I will be even more involved in what is going on here," said Tuberville.

Tuberville said that if they had bought land and built a Coast Guard school from scratch it would have cost a $billion and took ten years, thus the availability of the old Birmingham Southern campus was a big win for the Coast Guard and an enormous savings for the taxpayers.

Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama said, "This is an incredible day and it is an honor to join you here to celebrate this day on the Hilltop."

"This is a transformational moment for this state and the United States Coast Guard," said Britt. "It also means that thousands of members of the Coast Guard will be coming to Birmingham."

"The Coast Guard's acquisition of BFC continues its legacy," said Britt. This campus is special. Just ask the people who went here."

"BSC is moving into a new realm and I am excited to see what happens here on this campus," said Britt. "We are going to continue to work diligently to get investments like this."

"What an amazing day for the United States Coast Guard and the entire nation," said Admiral Lunday. "Every single day around the globe the United States Coast Guard maintains the watch."

"We are currently operating in an enormously trying environment," said Admiral Lunday. "The Coast Guard is acquiring a new fleet of ships and new aircraft."

"We must grow our force by 15,000," said Lunday. "Our enlisted corps is the lifeblood of our service." "Our goal is not to change the historic character of this hilltop, but building on it. We are proud to be investing in a city and a community we call home."

"We are making these generational investments in our people and we are making our home right here," said Lunday.

Lunday said that growing the force while modernizing the fleet would have been impossible without this new training facility.

Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) is a Birmingham Southern College alum.

"Every one of the alumnae that I have spoken to are pleased with this outcome for the campus," Aderholt told reporters.

Daniel Coleman was the last President of Birmingham Southern College. After failing to save BSC, he has spent two years working with the Coast Guard, the Trump administration, and the Congress on the deal that made Friday's grand opening possible.

"Two years ago, we gathered for a ceremony to close the college – it felt like a funeral," said Coleman,"

Coleman said that this new destiny for the BSC campus "Will bring hundreds of officers and teachers and thousands of recruits to the City Of Birmingham."

"I would like to thank Senators Britt and Tuberville. I would also like to thank my friend Congressman Aderholt who held my hands through some tough moments," Coleman said.

"I know the legacy the tradition of this campus will be cherished for another hundred years."

Admiral Lunday said that classes will begin at the new facility later this year.

The Coast Guard is responsible for high seas rescues protection of the maritime borders of the United States, and dealing with environmental disasters like the BP Horizon disaster.

Lunday said that there will be a lot of construction beginning on campus soon as the college begins updating and rehabbing the campus's buildings

To comment or to ask a question email: brandonmreporter@gmail.com