Meet Susan McKinney
Watch Officer, Coast Guard
From the deck of a rescue boat to the screens of a coordination centre, Susan’s journey is a testament to the diverse paths you can take within the Irish Coast Guard. After years of volunteering as a Coxswain with Drogheda Coast Guard Unit and working in high-level scientific research, she has brought her expertise to the radio room to help coordinate life-saving missions.
A 24/7 link to safety
Susan works at the very front line of maritime communication, ensuring that help is always just a radio call away.
“I am part of a team that provides a marine radio distress listening service and broadcast marine safety information around the coastline of Ireland 24/7 365 days a year. In addition to these duties, I assist in the coordination of search and rescue missions on the Irish coastline, cliffs and inland waterways while supporting other agencies such as An Garda Siochana," she explains.
From the water to the coordination centre
With 17 years of experience in the Drogheda Coast Guard Unit, Susan found that her skills as a volunteer Coxswain were a perfect fit for a professional career in the rescue centres.
She applied for this position because she has a strong interest in maritime search and rescue, and being involved in a Coast Guard Unit.
“As a coxswain in this volunteer unit, I have gained the skills necessary to make decisions and perform rescues under pressure. These essential skills are easily transferred from the ground into the radio room,“ she says.
The importance of a calm voice
For Susan, the most valuable part of the role is being the person who brings order and calm to a chaotic emergency.
“What I value most about a radio watch officer is their calm presence they bring to a situation. They are the first line of communication from people in trouble. I have witnessed their ability to calm people and get relevant information to start getting emergency personnel on scene.“
Support during training
Transitioning from a watch officer role involves learning the unique landscape of all three Irish rescue hubs.
"During training I have been given the opportunity to travel to the three Marine Rescue Coordination Centres in Dublin, Valentia, Co. Kerry, and Malin Head, Co. Donegal to get to know all the teams and secondly to familiarise myself with each operations room equipment."
The weight of responsibility
The role carries a significant impact, but Susan emphasises that it is always a team effort: "I was surprised the level of responsibility this role has, where people are relying on the accuracy and clarity of information especially in times of crisis. Sometimes your voice is the only voice that they will hear. Having said that, when on watch you are never alone. There is always a team around you, working with you."
A unique career path
Susan’s background shows that a passion for search and rescue can coexist with any professional background, from science to volunteering.
Though my career began in science – with a PhD in Molecular Parasitology and work in cancer research – I’ve also served 17 years as a volunteer in the Drogheda Unit of the Coast Guard... My academic background and hands-on search-and-rescue experience prepared me for a new role in the Rescue Coordination Centre, where I now help coordinate missions instead of executing them
Join the Irish Coast Guard
Are you looking for a rewarding career where you can make a real difference? The Irish Coast Guard offers exciting opportunities for people who are passionate about maritime safety and helping others.
All of our permanent roles are recruited through publicjobs.ie, the official website for public service careers in Ireland. On this site, you can search for current vacancies, read detailed job descriptions, and set up alerts so you never miss a new opening.