Captain Richard M. Scott

Sector Commander

CAPT Scott is responsible for Coast Guard operations across the Heartland, including all or parts of eleven 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 and three Marine Safety Detachments to promote maritime safety, security and environmental protection, while facilitating the river system’s $42B commercial element. CAPT Scott 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.

A 1998 Coast Guard Academy graduate, his first two assignments were afloat, as First Lieutenant onboard CGC CAMPBELL in New Bedford, MA, and Executive Officer of CGC OCRACOKE in San Juan, PR. Following duties underway, CAPT Scott served in the Personnel Service Center from 2002 to 2005 as a Central Assignment Coordinator, where he was responsible for assigning 30% of the enlisted workforce, including all newly created assignments supporting Patrol Forces Southeast Asia. He later served as the first Incident Management Division Chief in Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach. There he was responsible for search and rescue and pollution response operations along the southern California coastline, including the nation’s largest and most economically vital port complex.

After Performance Technology post-graduate studies beginning in 2008, CAPT Scott transferred to the Aviation Training Center in Mobile, AL where he oversaw a full modernization of all Coast Guard aviation training programs. There he was selected as the 2012 Charles Swaringen Award recipient, noting his leadership influence across the Coast Guard’s training system. From 2013 to 2015, he was the Chief of Response at Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, TX, where his primary duties included providing regional maritime security to the nation’s largest military outload operations in support of worldwide-deployed U.S. and coalition forces.

Prior to serving as Sector Upper Mississippi River’s Deputy Sector Commander from June 2018 to May 2020, CAPT Scott most recently served as Training Officer at Training Center Cape May, NJ, and was responsible for indoctrinating more than 4000 recruits annually in the service’s only enlisted accession point. From 2015-2018, his 135-member Training Division graduated one-third of the present day enlisted workforce, marking the Service’s largest post-9/11 accessions surge. He was also detailed by the Force Readiness Command (FORCECOM) to lead the CG’s SAPR II Command Cadre Course development, and was appointed as FORCECOM’s senior project manager to support a DCMS-chartered Human Capital Strategy priority to better attract, train, and retain talent in the critically-short Aviation Survival Technician Rating.

CAPT Scott’s personal awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, four CG Commendation Medals, a CG Achievement Medal, and two Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon Bars. His education includes a M.S. in Instructional Systems from Florida State University, and Advanced Certificates in Human Performance Technology and Organizational Leadership & Ethics from Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL. Originally from Abingdon, MD, he and his wife Kelly have a daughter Kyla (11), and two sons, Josh (9) and Jericho (7).

CDR Christian J. Barger

Deputy Sector Commander

CDR Barger serves as Deputy Commander, Sector Upper Mississippi River where he is responsible for Coast Guard operations in the Service’s largest contiguous area of responsibility, marked by all or parts of eleven states and 2,200+ miles of commercially navigable waterways on the Upper Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers and their tributaries. In his duties, he leads 273 Active Duty, Reserve, and civilian personnel and over 800 CG Auxiliary members serving the Sector office, five river tenders and three Marine Safety Detachments to promote maritime safety, security and environmental protection, while facilitating the inland river system’s $42B commercial element. CDR Barger serves as alternate 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 missions.

CDR Barger graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Maritime Operations and Technology and a Merchant Mariner Credential with Third Mate upon Oceans and all Qualified Member of the Engine Department endorsements. Accessed through the Maritime Graduate Direct Commission Program, his first assignment was as a Marine Inspector and Investigating Officer at Sector Upper Mississippi River from 2004 to 2008. Following that, he served as the Chief, Investigations Division at Sector St. Petersburg, FL, from 2008 to 2011, and as the Supervisor of Marine Safety Detachment Coram, NY, from 2011 to 2014.

In 2014, CDR Barger transferred to Training Center Yorktown where he served as an instructor and School Chief of the Marine Inspection and Investigation School. His primary area of instruction was marine investigations, serving as lead instructor in both the basic Investigating Officer Course and the Suspension and Revocation Course. In 2016, he earned designation as a Coast Guard Master Training Specialist. While there, CDR Barger completed his Masters of Science in International Transportation Management from the State University of New York’s Maritime Academy.

CDR Barger most recently served as the Chief, Waterways Management Division at Sector Upper Mississippi River reporting aboard in 2018. In that capacity, he was responsible for: management of the Aids to Navigation (ATON) program, including oversight of five inland river tenders; permitting of marine events; establishment of limited access areas through temporary federal rule making; monitoring of high and low water events; partnering with five U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Districts, National Weather Service, and maritime industry; and management of the shore-side facility inspection program to enforce security and marine environmental protection regulations.

CDR Barger’s personal awards include three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and the Coast Guard Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon. In May 2020, he will complete his JPME Level I certification from the U.S. Naval War College. He was awarded his permanent Marine Safety Insignia in 2008. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1997.

Originally from Westminster, MD, he currently lives in Wildwood, MO, with his wife of 12 years, Deb, and has two daughters, Meredith (25) and Sophie (7).

CSCS Scott A. Manfre

Command Senior Chief

Senior Chief Manfre assumed responsibilities as the Command Senior Chief of Sector Upper Mississippi River on June 7th 2019. As the Command Senior Chief he serves as a member of Sector Upper Mississippi River's Command Cadre ensuring the Commander’s Intent and leadership philosophy are understood and carried out in an area encompassing 11 states and 2,200 miles of commercially navigable waterways.

Senior Chief Manfre enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard on July 10th 2001 in Miami, Florida. Upon completion of basic training, he reported to Food Service Specialist "A" School in Petaluma, California. After advancing to Food Service Specialist Third Class he was assigned to USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC 722), Alameda, CA. His subsequent tours of duty include duty cook and boarding team member aboard USCGC Escanaba (WMEC 907), Boston, MA; duty cook and Food Service Officer at CG Station Cortez, FL; Food Service Officer, boarding team member and emergency medical technician aboard USCGC Shrike (WPB 87342) Port Canaveral, FL; Special Command Aide to the D17 Commander, Juneau, AK; Special Command Aide to the Deputy LANT Area Commander, Norfolk, VA; Special Command Aide to the D5 Commander, Portsmouth, VA; Food Service Specialist "A" and "C" School Instructor, Petaluma, CA; Food Service Officer and Command Chief aboard USCGC Resolute (WMEC 620) St. Petersburg, FL; and Contracting Officers Representative for the Galley at TRACEN Cape May, NJ.

Senior Chief Manfre is a proud graduate of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy class 201 and is a graduate of Coast Guard Senior Enlisted Leadership Course class 62.

Senior Chief Manfre’s personal awards include one Coast Guard Commendation Medal, six Coast Guard Achievement Medals with Operational Distinguishing Device, one Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon with Operational Distinguishing Device, six Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal, the Coast Guard’s Permanent Cutterman’s Insignia and various other individual and unit awards.