With over two decades of experience in search and rescue (SAR), Tom Gorgol has dedicated his career to improving emergency response strategies, particularly for mass rescue operations. As the Mass Rescue Operations Program Manager at the Office of Search and Rescue, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., he plays a vital role in developing national policies, contingency plans, and collaborative strategies to enhance SAR capabilities.

Before stepping into this role, Tom spent 21 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, including nine years in Rescue Coordination Centers, where he successfully managed over 1,500 SAR cases. His expertise now focuses on evaluating large-scale emergency response frameworks, ensuring that SAR teams are equipped to handle complex, high-pressure Mass Rescue Operation (MRO) scenarios. Since joining the U.S. Coast Guard in 1993, he has been deeply committed to saving lives. “My goal has always been to save lives and to implement plans and policies that ensure the most efficient and effective response to an MRO,” he explains.

Tom highlights a common misconception about MROs: many SAR organisations initially treat MROs as simply a larger SAR incidents. “The challenge is that an MRO quickly exceeds the capabilities of a single SAR organisation. These events require extensive coordination with local stakeholders and emergency response agencies,” he says. “It’s only when an MRO is underway that people realise how much more complex it is than a typical SAR case.”

His work now focuses on preparing SAR professionals for these challenges, ensuring they have the knowledge and strategies needed to manage large-scale rescues effectively. The training course he helps oversee at the IMRF emphasises the reality that MROs are no-notice events that can quickly overwhelm any SAR system. By guiding students through scenario-based training, the course enables them to assess evolving situations and develop response plans that cover everything from initial notification to the transfer of survivors to shore-based responders.

One of the key lessons taught in the course is the importance of looking beyond traditional SAR assets. “To have an effective and efficient response, SAR personnel need to consider all available resources, including volunteer and commercial maritime assets,” he explains. “We focus on how to identify and engage with these resources to enhance overall operational capacity.” The course also introduces decision-making models, technological tools, and real-time coordination strategies to help SAR teams operate effectively under high-pressure conditions.

Another critical element is understanding the logistical constraints of deploying SAR assets in a large-scale, multi-agency operation. Rather than relying solely on their own resources, SAR teams must work closely with a network of partners, including passenger vessel operators, aviation units, and land-based emergency responders. The course highlights best practices for ensuring seamless interoperability between these different response units, helping SAR personnel build strong relationships that will be crucial when an MRO occurs.

While the course does not focus on medical aspects, it does emphasise the need for SAR organisations to establish strong connections with medical providers. “Understanding how the medical community will integrate into the response is essential,” he says. “We stress the importance of knowing what local hospitals and emergency services can handle and incorporating that into the planning process.”

Looking ahead, he sees digital simulation and virtual reality training tools playing a larger role in preparing SAR teams for large-scale rescues. As technology continues to evolve, these tools will provide SAR personnel with more immersive, hands-on training experiences, allowing them to refine their decision-making skills in realistic MRO scenarios. “The goal is to ensure that when a real MRO occurs, SAR teams are as prepared as possible. The more we train, the more lives we can save,” he says.

Join us at the next MRO SME course in Sweden

The next IMRF MRO SME course will be organised 18 - 20 June in Gothenburg, Sweden. You can find out more here. Applications close on 31 March.