COMMAND
SECTOR COMMANDER
CAPT Andrew R. Bender
CAPT Bender is responsible for Coast Guard operations across the Heartland, including all or parts of 11 states and 2,200+ miles of commercially navigable waterways along the Upper Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois River basins. In his duties, he leads over 270 Active Duty, Reserve, and civilian personnel and 800 Auxiliarists, including five 65’/75’ river tenders, three Marine Safety Detachments, and one multi-mission small boat station to promote maritime safety, security and environmental protection, while facilitating the river system’s $42B commercial element. CAPT Bender serves as Captain of the Port, Officer-in-Charge Marine Inspection, Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, Federal Maritime Security Coordinator and Federal On-Scene Coordinator for all Sector UMR missions.
CAPT Bender’s previous assignment was at the Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise in Paducah, KY, where he played a significant role in the implementation of “Subchapter M”, which to date has resulted in the certification of over 5,000 towing vessels operating nationwide. In this capacity, he was responsible for the approval and oversight of third party organizations working on the Coast Guard’s behalf as a force multiplier to ensure compliance of the over 3,500 vessels participating in Subchapter M’s TSMS Compliance Option. He championed and co-authored dozens of national policies to ensure smooth and consistent application of this significant regulation, led curriculum development and incorporation of towing vessel instruction for the Marine Inspector Course at Yorktown, VA, and led the transition of the training to a web-based platform available to thousands of towing vessel stakeholders.
A 2000 Coast Guard Academy graduate, his first assignment was afloat as Operations’ Officer aboard CGC SWEETGUM in Mobile, AL. Following the underway assignment, CAPT Bender served at Marine Safety Office New Orleans from 2002 to 2006 in a variety of safety and security positions, including leading the Domestic Inspection’s Branch following Hurricane Katrina and serving as a key member of the Marine Safety Office to Sector transition team. He was then assigned to Sector Charleston where he served as Division Chief for both Domestic Inspections and Investigations.
In 2011, following Industrial and Systems Engineering post-graduate work, CAPT Bender was assigned to the Human Systems Integration Branch at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C., where he served as a Manpower and Personnel Analyst for major acquisitions including the National Security Cutter, Fast Response Cutter, and HC-144 Ocean Sentry Programs.
From 2014 to 2017, he served as the Prevention Department Head at Sector Key West, FL, where he oversaw maritime safety and security spanning hundreds of miles of navigable waterways throughout the Keys, including a fleet of nearly 1,000 commercial vessels and the preservation of over 400 aids to navigation.
CAPT Bender’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, five CG Commendation Medals, and two Commandant’s Letter of Commendation. His education includes a M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Florida, a B.S. in Operations Research from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and certificates in the field of Acquisition Project Management.
Originally from Mobile, Alabama, he and his wife have two children.
DEPUTY SECTOR COMMANDER
CDR Anne E. Besser
CDR Besser is the Deputy Sector Commander for Sector Upper Mississippi River (UMR), overseeing Coast Guard operations across an 11-state area with 2,200 miles of navigable waterways, including the Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers. She leads 270 Active Duty, Reserve, and civilian personnel, 800 Auxiliary members, five 65’/75’ Inland River Buoy Tender cutters, and three Marine Safety Detachments, ensuring maritime safety, security, and environmental protection while facilitating over $42 billion in annual economic activity. She also serves as the alternate Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, Federal Maritime Security Coordinator, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, Officer-in-Charge Marine Inspection, and Captain of the Port for all Sector missions.
Previously, she was Chief, Marine Transportation Systems Management School and Container Inspection Training and Assist Team Supervisor at Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown (2020-2024), where she oversaw course delivery and curriculum development for the Waterways Management, Explosives Handling Supervisor, Facility Inspector, and Container Inspector courses, as well as the execution of the Coast Guard & Army’s Memorandum of Agreement to provide HAZMAT cargo pre-inspection & sealing of vital cargo for deploying forces. She served in Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach (2017-2020), in a variety of vessel safety and security capacities, from Journeyman Inspector, Domestic Vessel Branch Chief, and acting Chief Inspections. She was responsible for the inspections oversight of over 300 U.S.-Flagged container and cargo ships, high-speed ferries, towing vessels, small passenger vessels, and barges. She also led the concentrated inspection campaign for the nation’s largest fleet of overnight accommodation vessels after the tragic fire on the M/V CONCEPTION. Prior to LA/LB, she worked in the Office of Design and Engineering Standards at Coast Guard Headquarters (2013-2017), focusing on regulations and policies for Offshore Support Vessels and representing the U.S. on the Working Group for a new strategic framework at the IMO's 116th Council. She also served as an Apprentice Marine Inspector, Port State Control Branch Chief, Waterways Management Division Supervisor, and Command Duty Officer at Sector Anchorage (2009-2011).
Enlisting in the Coast Guard in 2002, she began her Prevention Ashore career as a Marine Science Technician and was commissioned in 2008 from the Coast Guard’s Officer Candidate School (OCS). Prior to OCS, she served as a reservist on and off active duty conducting Port State Control at MSO/Sector Boston and inspecting regulated waterfront facilities at MSO St. Louis/Sector Upper Mississippi River. She holds a B.S. in Architectural Studies from Norwich University and a M.S. in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from the University of New Orleans.
COMMAND SENIOR CHIEF
Senior Chief Edward Van Riper
Senior Chief Edward Van Riper assumed the responsibilities of the Command Senior Chief of Sector Upper Mississippi River in July 2024. His previous assignment was as a student at the United States Army Sergeant’s Major Academy Class 74.
Senior Chief Van Riper’s previous assignments include Sector Miami Boarding Team Chief, Security Chief at Base Los Angeles/ Long Beach, CA; Security Chief at Air Station Borinquen, Aguadilla, PR; Supervisor of VBST Texas City, Texas City, TX; Armory Supervisor aboard CGC MOHAWK, Key West, FL; Boarding Officer at Sector San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Armory duty Sector Baltimore, Curtis Bay, MD; and Boat Crew Member at Station Curtis Bay, Curtis Bay, MD.
Senior Chief Van Riper holds an Associate of Science Degree in Public Service and Management from Indiana Wesleyan University, a Bachelor of Science in Military Leadership from Excelsior University, and a Master of Management with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from Excelsior University. Senior Chief Van Riper is a graduate of the Chief Petty Officer’s Academy Class CCXXIII and Senior Enlisted Leadership Course Class 87. He is also a graduate of various service schools including the Army Sergeant’s Major Academy Class 74, Coast Guard Leadership & Management Course, U. S. Army Civilian Police Academy, Applied Suicide Intervention Training, Critical Incident Stress Management, Operational Stress Control, Joint Professional Military Education Phase I and II, and the Basic Boarding Officer Course.
Originally from Texas, Senior Chief Van Riper enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in January 2003. His personal awards include three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and five Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbons, all with the operational distinguishing device. In addition to various other personal and unit level awards, he wears the Response Operations Ashore Insignia, Advanced Boat Forces Insignia, and the Boat Forces Operations Insignia.