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 Amanda M. Styles

Commander Amanda M. Styles assumed her current position as Deputy Sector Commander of Sector Lower Mississippi River in June 2024 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 she leads 200 Active Duty, Reserve, and civilian personnel and over 248 CG Auxiliary members at the Sector office, six river buoy tenders, a Marine Safety Unit, a detached duty marine safety office and one Aids to Navigation Team. She 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 her arrival in Memphis, Commander Styles was the Prevention Capabilities Division Chief at the Office of Shore Forces (CG-741) in Washington, D.C. where she was responsible for aligning the modernization of Prevention program’s strategic diction, resourcing priorities, and identifying and filling capability gaps across Prevention Shore Force enterprise. Previous assignments include Investigations Division Chief at Sector Southeastern New England, Marine Investigator and Facility/Container Supervisor in Los Angeles-Long Beach, and a Marine Inspector and Search and Rescue Command Duty Officer in Boston, Massachusetts. Commander Styles’ career also included an assignment as a Central Assignment Coordinator at the Personnel Service Center (PSC) Enlisted Personnel Management (EPM) Division.

Commander Styles volunteered as a White House Social Aide and her military awards include two Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and Commandant’s Letter of Commendation and holds her Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional license (SHMR-CP).

Commander Styles was raised in Columbus, Ohio and graduated from Denison University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and History. She earned her Master in Public Administration and followed it on with a Master Certificate in Human Resources from Villanova University. She is married to Doug Kershner of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has a son named George.

Command Senior Enlisted Leader

Senior Chief Mason Champlin

Command Senior Chief

Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River

Senior Chief Mason Champlin assumed the duties of Command Senior Chief of Sector Lower Mississippi River on July 11th, 2025, 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 which includes 6 Cutters, 1 Aids to Navigation Team, 1 Marine Safety Unit, and 1 Marine Safety Detached Duty. Most recently, Senior Chief Champlin served as the D13 & D17 Culinary Support Branch (CSB) representative at Health Safety & Work-Life Service Center (HSWL-SC) in Norfolk, VA.

Originally from Chicago, IL, Senior Chief Champlin enlisted in the Coast Guard in July 2009 where he completed Basic Training aboard Training Center Cape May, NJ. Upon graduating, he reported to Culinary Specialist A-School in Petaluma, CA. As a Culinary Specialist, Senior Chief Champlin’s assignments have included Station Grand Haven, MI, Food Service Officer (FSO) onboard CGC Hollyhock, Special Command Aide (SCA) to the Ninth District Commander, FSO onboard CGC Resolute, SCA to Commander Atlantic Area, and was a plank-owner of the CSB at the HSWL-SC.

Senior Chief Champlin’s wife of 13 years, Stephanie, is also from Chicago, IL where they met in 2005, got married in 2011, and in October 2022 they welcomed their daughter Addison into the world. Stephanie is a Registered Nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Addison is a curious and independent toddler. When he’s not spending time with his family, Senior Chief Champlin enjoys barbequing, cooking, golfing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, playing softball/baseball, and is a life-long die-hard Chicago Cubs fan.

Senior Chief Champlin is a graduate of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Academy, Class 239. He holds an Associate of Science in the Culinary Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Management. He aspires to complete his Master of Business Administration.

Senior Chief Champlin’s awards include: four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals with “O” device, five Commandant’s Letters of Commendation, among other personal and team awards.