Deputy Sector Commander
Commander Eric M. Neussl
Commander Erick Neussl assumed his current position as Deputy Sector Commander of Sector Lower Mississippi River in June 2021 and provides daily oversight for Coast Guard operations in six states and over 2,200 miles of inland waterways including the Lower Mississippi, Arkansas, Ouachita and Red Rivers and their tributaries. As Deputy Sector Commander he leads 212 Active Duty, Reserve, and civilian personnel and over 350 CG Auxiliary members at the Sector office, six river buoy tenders, a Marine Safety Detachment, two detached duty marine safety offices and one Aids to Navigation Team. He serves as the Alternate Captain of the Port, Federal Maritime Security Coordinator, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, and Acting Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection. Major missions for the Sector include commercial vessel inspections, pollution response, waterways management, aids to navigation, maritime security, law enforcement, and search and rescue coordination.
Prior to his arrival at Sector Lower Mississippi River, Commander Neussl served as a Training Manager in Force Readiness Command (FORCECOM), Training Division at CG Headquarters where he oversaw the execution of the annual C-school programming cycle for the entire CG Training System, including 827 active courses across 56 program offices and $56.9M worth of training resources. Previous assignments include Marine Safety Detachment Supervisor in Peoria, IL, where he led all Sector Upper Mississippi River missions in parts of three states that included over 250 miles of navigable waterways on the Illinois River and Barge Section Supervisor at Sector New York where he managed a fleet of more than 250 inspected barges which transported over 30 million barrels of petroleum and chemicals annually within the East Coast’s largest port.
Commander Neussl’s career has also included assignment as Admin and Coordination Staff for the Assistant Commandant for Resources & Chief Financial Officer (CG-8) at CG Headquarters, Naval Flight Training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL and Engineer Officer in Training and Damage Control Assistant aboard the Coast Guard Cutter ACUSHNET (WMEC-167) in Ketchikan, AK.
An Oregon native, Commander Neussl holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California, Davis and entered the Coast Guard through Officer Candidate School in 2005. He holds a Master of Science degree in Instructional Systems and Learning Technology from Florida State University with a certificate in Online Instructional Design.
Commander Neussl has earned the CG Basic Boat Forces Insignia and CG Marine Safety Insignia. His personal awards include the CG Meritorious Service Medal, three CG Commendation Medals and two CG Achievement Medals. Commander Neussl is very proud of his two daughters, Isabel and Rebekah and his son, Robert.