LCDR Joseph B. Kolb III
Commanding Officer
Marine Safety Unit Cleveland

Lieutenant Commander Kolb assumed command of Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Cleveland, Ohio in June 2025. In this role, he directs all marine safety missions on Lake Erie and its tributaries in an area of operations spanning from Vermilion, Ohio to the Ohio/Pennsylvania border. This area includes the Port of Cleveland and the Cuyahoga River, among the largest and most complex waterways in the Coast Guard Great Lakes District.

Prior to reporting to MSU Cleveland, Lieutenant Commander Kolb served as a staff engineer in the Hazardous Materials Division of the Office of Engineering and Design Standards at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington DC. There, he was responsible for developing and maintaining standards and regulations for the carriage of hazardous bulk liquid cargoes on board commercial vessels. His primary focus was navigating vessels supporting the offshore oil and energy industry through the complexities of increased international cargo carriage requirements designed to enhance mariner safety. He also served as Alternate Designated Federal Officer of the National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee, whose function is to provide advice to the Secretary of Homeland Security on the safe maritime transportation of hazardous materials.

After receiving his commission in the Coast Guard through Officer Candidate School in 2015, Lieutenant Commander Kolb was assigned to MSU Morgan City, Louisiana, where he served as an Apprentice Marine Inspector. Serving the offshore oil and energy industry for the first time, he earned five vessel inspection qualifications, to include the major Offshore Supply Vessel Inspector qualification, and his Journeyman Marine Inspector designation. Following this tour, he was selected for the Marine Safety Engineering Advanced Education Program, where he spent two years completing his degree.

Lieutenant Commander Kolb graduated from the University of Virginia in 2009, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. In 2021, he earned his Master of Science degree in chemical engineering from The Ohio State University.

Lieutenant Commander Kolb has earned the Operations Ashore Prevention Insignia. He is also a recipient of the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal and various other personal, unit, and service awards. Lieutenant Commander Kolb is a native of Stafford, Virginia.

LCDR Sasha Queary
Executive Officer 
Marine Safety Unit Cleveland

Lieutenant Commander Queary assumed the role of Executive Officer, Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Cleveland in June 2024. She is responsible for executing the Coast Guard’s Port Safety and Security, Marine Environmental Protection, and Commercial Vessel Safety missions from the Ohio/Pennsylvania border to Vermillion, OH.

Prior to MSU Cleveland, LCDR Queary was assigned to Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley in Louisville, KY. As Chief, Investigations Division she conducted and supported marine casualty and personnel action investigations along 8,000 river miles, spanning across 10 states. 

Her previous assignments include a tour as the Assistant Chief, Inspections Division at MSU Chicago in Willowbrook, IL where she conducted vessel inspections and oversaw the Facilities Inspections Division, covering the major parts of the Illinois River and southern Lake Michigan. Prior to that, she was assigned to MSU Texas City in Texas City, TX as an Apprentice Marine Inspector where she conducted foreign and domestic vessel inspections to ensure compliance with international conventions and U.S. laws and regulations.

LCDR Queary graduated from Hampton University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Immediately upon graduating, she attended Officer Candidate School, earning her commission in 2015. She also earned a Master Degree in Human Resources and Organizational Development from University of Louisville in 2023.

Chief Marine Science Technician 
Andrew K. Kistner
Marine Safety Unit Cleveland

Chief Marine Science Technician (MSTC) Kistner assumed the role of Incident Management (IMD) and Command Chief of Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Cleveland June 2023. As IMD Chief, MSTC is responsible for the effective and efficient federal response on coastal waters of Lake Erie and its tributaries throughout MSU Cleveland’s area of responsibility. MSTC is the senior enlisted member at MSU Cleveland and is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the enlisted crew assigned to MSU Cleveland.

MSTC Andrew Kistner enlisted in the Coast Guard in May 2010 and graduated from TRACEN Cape MAY with company KILO-183. From there he was stationed on both the USCGC POLAR SEA and POLAR STAR as a non-rate. In 2013 MSTC attended MST A-school at TRACEN Yorktown. 

After graduating from Marine Science Technician School. MSTC transferred to Sector Charleston where he worked in the prevention shop, earning qualifications as a Facility Inspector, Container Inspector, Explosive Handling supervisor, and Port State Control Officer. His critical involvement in a magic pipe case resulted in several felonies and a $2,000,000 penalty.

In June of 2017, MSTC transferred to Marine Safety Detachment (MSD) Belfast Maine, earning his qualification as a Pollution Responder. During his time as MSD Belfast MSTC Led over 100 marine casualty investigations, including a Nor’easter involving 12 vessels that had run aground, sank, or succumbed to a total loss.

In June of 2020 MSTC transferred to MSD Humboldt Bay in Eureka, CA. During his time here he became qualified in Federal On-Scene Coordinator, and Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiner. MSTC led over another 100 Marine Casualty Investigations during his time at the MSD including the grounding of a fuel barge containing 1.76 million gallons of fuel. 

During his time in MSTC has accumulated over 1400 hours of volunteer time with various organizations. Chief Kistner is also a graduate of the Chief Petty Officer Academy, Class 291.