Allen shuts down Gulf spill incident command, gets ready for new job

The National Incident Command for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill was shut down Friday and its leader, retired U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, left his post.

Allen transferred oversight of the ongoing Gulf cleanup to the Coast Guard's New Orleans office, which is headed by Rear Adm. Paul Zukunft.

"Response operations will continue under transition plans that have developed with our state and local partners," Allen said in a statement. "Unity of effort must continue to be our common goal. Our commitment to this response and the people of the Gulf of Mexico remains and I am pleased that Rear Admiral Zukunft will continue his dedicated service. This response has been unprecedented in its scope and complexity and we cannot forget the 11 crew members that lost their lives."

Meanwhile, Rand Corp. announced that Allen will join the firm Monday. Allen will be a senior fellow specializing in homeland security, ocean policy, and defense issues. He will work out of the organization's Washington, D.C. office.

Allen retired from the Coast Guard in May. Before assuming his position at the head of the government's response to the oil spill, he was the service's commandant.

Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano complimented Allen on his last day of federal employment.

"The BP oil spill presented unique challenges and required an aggressive, all-of-government approach," Napolitano said. "As the National Incident Commander, Admiral Allen drew on his experience with major response efforts as well as his long career in the Coast Guard to help direct the aggressive efforts to stop the flow of oil from the Macondo well, mitigate the impacts of the spill on vital coastal areas, and hold the responsible party accountable.