Security Levels

Deputy Commander, Sector Columbia River

Captain David Berliner

CAPT David Berliner assumed the duties of Deputy Sector Commander, Sector Columbia River in July 2015. As Deputy Sector Commander, CAPT Berliner is second in command for Coast Guard operations in the state of Oregon, the Southern half of Washington and most of Idaho. This includes 420 miles of coast, 465 miles of inland rivers, and 33 ports including the ports of Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA. The Marine Transportation System within the Sector's area of operation supports over $23 billion in commerce annually. The Sector has nine subordinate units with a total workforce of 1,050 active duty, civilian, reserve, and auxiliary personnel.

Prior to this, CAPT David Berliner served as the Incident Management Section Chief, Coast Guard Atlantic Area from 2013 to 2015. As the Incident Management Section Chief, he was responsible for coordinating with LANTAREA Districts with reference to Marine Environmental Response (MER), Search and Rescue (SAR), and Contingency operations (Hurricanes, Flooding, etc) while supporting affected units as needed. Also, during this tour he also served as the Interim Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Activities Europe for four months.

From 1992 to 1996, Captain Berliner served as an Investigating Officer, Marine Inspector and Port State Control Officer at Marine Safety Office Honolulu. From 1996 to 2000, Captain Berliner served as Assistant Chief of Domestic Inspections and Chief of the Marine Environmental Protection Branch at Marine Safety Office Houston-Galveston.

In 2000, Captain Berliner was selected to serve as Supervisor of Marine Safety Detachment Grand Haven. Overseeing over 100 high-profile marine events and upgrading port security along over 200-miles of coastline and waterfront security of two operational nuclear power plants, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. From 2003 to 2007, Captain Berliner served as Assistant Chief of the Prevention Human Resources and Training Division at Coast Guard Headquarters. Throughout this tour of duty, he led numerous initiatives to transform the Coast Guard's training and performance qualification standards including a multi-million dollar project to revise nine C-School curriculums and 29 Marine Safety Qualifications to meet Maritime Transportation Security Act requirements.

In 2007, Captain Berliner was selected to serve as Executive Officer of Marine Safety Unit Galveston. Overseeing the unit’s move from Galveston Island to Texas City; while also serving as Acting Commanding Officer for over four months during multiple demanding response operations. In 2009 Captain Berliner served as the Response Branch Director during Hurricane IKE preparation and recovery operations. He expertly managed all maritime security missions and rapid port-assessment team deployments during hurricane landfall and initial response operations, saving lives while ensuring the safety of the waterways in seven area major ports.

From 2010 to 2013, Captain Berliner served as Chief of Prevention at Sector San Juan. In 2012 Captain Berliner served as the Incident Commander during the federalized response to the grounded M/V JIREH on a remote island nature preserve. The IMT overcame numerous and unique challenges, including two tropical storms, discovery of 200 pounds of marijuana valued at $2.4 million dollars hidden in the vessel and two migrant landings near the worksite on Mona Island. Despite these and many other challenges, the 15 million dollar effort, removed more than 600 tons of oiled cargo, over 5,000 gallons of oil products, 23 drums of hazardous materials, and all traces of the JIREH from the Mona Island Nature Reserve.

A native of Essex, CT, he graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1991 with a Bachelors of Science in Marine Transportation. Captain Berliner was commissioned as a Coast Guard Officer in 1992 after sailing as a Third Mate aboard the S.S. RUTH LYKES. Captain Berliner also earned a Masters of Science in Quality Systems Management from the National Graduate School in 2006.

Captain Berliner is a certified Marine Safety Professional with over 20 marine safety and incident command system qualifications; to include designation as a Type-II Incident Commander and he holds a Third Mate, Unlimited Tonnage Oceans, Merchant Mariners License. His Coast Guard awards include two Meritorious Service Medal, five Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and multiple team, unit and service awards.

CAPT Berliner Bio (PDF for download)

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Last Modified 12/21/2016