Sector Commander

Captain Daniel P. Kilcullen

Captain Daniel Kilcullen is arriving from the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance where he served as the head of the Domestic and Offshore Division, managing a comprehensive compliance program for over 18,000 domestic and offshore vessels worldwide. He led cross-functional teams to develop and publish policies governing autonomous vessels, vessel suitability, passenger safety, and environmental protection, while also overseeing vessel appeals, addressing NTSB safety recommendations, authoring reports to Congress, and providing critical direction to Marine Inspection units throughout the Coast Guard.

Captain Kilcullen has served in a diverse range of staff and operational tours. As a Staff Engineer at the Marine Safety Center (Washington, D.C.), he reviewed and approved plans for the design, construction, and repair of U.S. passenger and towing vessels. Captain Kilcullen has also served as an Assistant Branch Chief of Port State Control (Sector New Orleans), managing the nation's largest port state control program which oversaw the targeting of over 6,500 foreign vessels and the execution of more than 1,200 Port State Control exams annually. Captain Kilcullen’s afloat assignments include Operations Officer onboard the USCGC RELIANCE, Commanding Officer of USCGC STEELHEAD, and First Lieutenant on the USCGC DILIGENCE. From 2010 to 2012, he also served as the Senior Training Officer at Afloat Training Group Mayport from 2010 and 2016, having led a 12-member unit that trained and certified onboard training teams for Major Atlantic Area Cutters from Texas to Maine.

Captain Kilcullen is a class of ‘06 graduate from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. He also holds Master of Science degrees in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, and in Industrial Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. Captain Kilcullen has received numerous military awards and recognitions throughout his career; most notably the Permanent Cutterman Insignia in 2011 and the Permanent Marine Safety Insignia in 2021.

When not serving the marine community, you can find Captain Kilcullen woodworking or manning a grill alongside his wife, Becky, and their son, Rory.

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 Chief

Senior Chief Mason Champlin

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 Northwest District & Arctic District 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 Great Lakes 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.