Sector Charleston Deputy Commander
Commander Chris Nichols
Commander Chris Nichols assumed the duties as the Deputy Sector Commander at Sector Charleston in June 2025.
Prior to this assignment he was the Prevention Department Head and was responsible for the day‐to‐day execution of Captain of the Port and Officer‐in‐Charge, Marine Inspection functions including vessel inspections, marine casualty investigations and waterways management.
Commander Nichols’ previous assignment was as Supervisor, Marine Inspection Detachment Singapore where he was responsible for the management and execution of flag State functions pursuant to International Maritime Organization (IMO) instruments for U.S. flag vessels operating in the Indo‐Pacific.
He also served as a staff officer in the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG‐CVC) at Coast Guard Headquarters as a flag State control officer responsible for U.S. flag global compliance, oversight of Recognized Organizations, and Safety Management System policy. In addition, he co‐chaired the U.S. Registry Working Group in conjunction with members of the U.S. Maritime Administration, U.S. Transportation Command, and industry representatives in support of U.S. national strategic sealift policy.
Other assignments were as a Marine Inspector at Activities Europe (Rotterdam, NL) (2012‐2015), Sector Delaware Bay (Philadelphia, PA) (2009‐2012), and Sector Anchorage (Anchorage, AK) (2006‐2009).
Commander Nichols is a 2006 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Management and a 2008 graduate of Touro University
International, where he earned a Master of Business Administration.