SECTOR LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMAND STAFF

          

Sector Commander

 

 

Captain Kristi L. Bernstein

 

 

Prior to her arrival in Memphis, Captain Bernstein served as Deputy Commander for U.S. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles Long Beach from May 2020 to May 2023. From the command offices on Terminal Island in San Pedro, the Sector coordinated operations in an area of responsibility stretching more than 350 miles along the California coast, from north of Morro Bay and south to San Clemente, out to 200 miles offshore, and included the nation’s largest port complex. She oversaw eight patrol boats, three multi-mission small boat stations, a marine safety detachment, a vessel traffic system and an aids-to-navigation team.


Captain Bernstein is a Response Operations specialist and Cutterman with a focus on Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security, and Marine and Environmental Response Operations and has over 25 years of experience.


With six years at sea, Captain Bernstein has sailed the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Florida Straits conducting maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and ports, waterways, and coastal security missions in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. She served onboard a Medium Endurance Cutter, VIGOROUS and served as both the Executive Officer of CGC KEY LARGO and Commanding Officer of CGC FARALLON, two 110-foot Patrol Boats.


Captain Bernstein’s career has also encompassed diverse staff tours. She served as a Command Duty Officer in the District Seven Command Center in Miami, Florida, Deputy Commandant for Operations’ staff at Coast Guard Headquarters, Chief of Enforcement at Sector Corpus Christi, Texas and Chief of Response Operations at Sector Delaware Bay.
A native of Miami, Florida, Captain Bernstein graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine and Environmental Science in 1998. She is also a graduate of the University of Maryland and holds Master of Science degrees in Environmental Management, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Cyber Security Policy, and a Master of Business Administration.

 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.

 

 

Command Senior Enlisted Leader

 

Senior Chief Machinery Technician

Jameson Hannaman

Master Chief Jameson Hannaman assumed the duties of Command Master Chief of Sector Lower Mississippi River on June 4th, 2021 where he serves as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader with a primary responsibility to advise the Sector Commander on issues and initiatives pertaining to all Coast Guard members and their families throughout the Sector. Most recently, Master Chief Hannaman served as an instructor at the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy.


Originally from Adelanto, CA, Master Chief Hannaman enlisted in November 1997, and served aboard the Coast Guard Cutter MUNRO (Alameda, CA) for two years before attending Machinery Technician “A” school in Yorktown, VA. Other assignments include: Station New Orleans, LA, MSST Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA, Coast Guard Cutter Maria Bray (Jacksonville, FL), Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, TX.


Master Chief Hannaman is a proud graduate of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Academy Class 203 and the Coast Guard Senior Enlisted Leadership Course, Class 74. He is currently working towards his degree in Organizational Management through the United States Navy Community College. (USNCC)


Master Chief Hannaman’s personal awards include: two Coast Guard Commendation Medals with Operational “O” device, one Army Commendation Medal, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals with “O” device, and one Commandants Letter of Commendation with “O” device.


He is married to the former Monica Mejia of Bell Gardens, CA since 2004.