Commander Tyson Richards assumed the duties of Base Elizabeth City Commanding Officer on 4 June 2026. He is responsible for overseeing and delivering regional mission support activities within the U.S. Coast Guard East District to Coast Guard units throughout North Carolina. Prior to assuming command, he previously served as the Naval Engineer Department Head at Base Portsmouth, where he led a team of 204 active duty, reserve and civilian personnel from Cape May NJ to Fort Macon NC, providing depot-level planned and corrective maintenance throughout the Atlantic Area and East District surface fleet. 

Prior to Base Portsmouth, Commander Richards served as the Cutter Safety Manager at Coast Guard Headquarters Washington, DC. In this role, he was responsible for implementing the Coast Guard's Safety Management System and providing vital mishap response support to the entire Coast Guard cutter fleet. 

Originally from Oregon City, OR, Commander Richards began his military career in 1994, graduating from Basic Training in Cape May, NJ. Following Machinery Technician “A” school in 1995, he advanced through the enlisted ranks to Chief Machinery Technician in 2004. In 2008, he earned his commission as a Naval Engineering Chief Warrant Officer.

Commander Richards’ other assignments included serving as the Engineer Officer aboard CGC Decisive, Supervisor of Sector Field Office Atlantic City, and as Naval Engineer at Group/Airsta Humboldt Bay. During his enlisted career, he served as the Engineer Petty Officer on CGC Kiska and at Station Key West and assignments aboard CGC Mustang, CGC Steadfast, and CGC Polar Sea.

Commander Richards has actively pursued advanced education, having been selected to attend the Coast Guard Advanced Education program twice—once for Naval Engineering Technology and once for Surface Safety Systems. In 2013 he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology from Daytona State College, FL. He later earned a Master of Science degree in Human Factors from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL, in 2020. Additionally, Commander Richards is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Throughout his career, Commander Richards has earned various personal and team awards and holds the distinguished designation as a permanent Cutterman. He currently resides in Chesapeake, Virginia, with his wife, Valerie, and their two children, Sylvia and Gavin.

CDR Mark Allen assumed the duties of Base Elizabeth City Executive Officer in June 2025. He is responsible for overseeing regional mission support activities within the Fifth Coast Guard District for Coast Guard units throughout North Carolina under the leadership of the Base Elizabeth City Commanding Officer. 

Prior to this assignment, CDR Allen served as the Base Seattle Comptroller and Operations Department Head where he managed a $6.5M annual budget and oversaw Base operations, including galley, logistics support, shipping and receiving, and shoreside security across 53 acres in support of six tenant commands. 

CDR Allen is a 2009 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Management. Upon earning his commission, he served as the Assistant Enforcement Division Chief at Sector Northern New England conducting ports, waterways and coastal security missions, as well as law enforcement operations across four states and 5,200 miles of coastline.   

In 2012, CDR Allen attended the College of William and Mary where he graduated with honors while earning master’s degrees in business administration and accounting. Upon graduating, he was assigned as the Eighth District Budget Officer where he oversaw the execution of a $40M annual operating budget in support of 96 units across 26 states.
In 2018, CDR Allen was assigned as the Incident Management Division Chief at Sector Sault Sainte Marie where he managed four multi-mission stations, led dozens of all-hazard responses, and served as a Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinator directing SAR missions across the northern Great Lakes.   

In 2020, CDR Allen was assigned as the Chief of Emergency Management for Sector North Carolina where he directed SAR missions across eight multi-mission stations, served as the Sector’s primary liaison to North Carolina state and local emergency managers, and oversaw the Sector’s multi-year integrated preparedness and exercise plan.   

CDR Allen holds professional certifications as an emergency manager (CEM) and government financial manager (CGFM), and has earned numerous personal and team awards.  

Originally from Buena Vista, Colorado, CDR Allen resides in Elizabeth City, NC, with his wife Lindsey and their eight children (Melanie, Josiah, Abbie, Kamden, Reagan, Hudson, Emerson, and Paisley).

Senior Chief Lanier assumed the duties of the Base Elizabeth City, NC Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) October 1, 2025. Base Elizabeth City is located on 822 acres in Northeastern North Carolina providing regional support across North Carolina, including Sector North Carolina and Air Station Elizabeth City. As the Command Senior Chief, he provides guidance for five tenant commands with a local workforce of 3,000 personnel. His responsibilities encompass multi-faceted support of operational units’ safety and security, finance and supply, procurement, personnel administration, galley operations, facility engineering, medical care, work life and information technology.

Senior Chief Lanier most recently served as the Base Galveston CSEL where he provided expert guidance for a team that supported 100+ units across Texas and Louisiana. His previous assignments include: LANTAREA Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF) C4I Manager, Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) WPB Relief Crew, District Five Command Center, Maritime Force Protection Unit Bangor, WA, CGC TAHOMA and Sector Lower Mississippi River Memphis, TN.

Senior Chief Lanier’s Military Training includes Chief Petty Officer Academy (May 2014), Operations Specialist “A” School (April 2006) and Basic Military Training (November 2005). His awards include three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the National Defense Ribbon and various other service and unit awards.

Senior Chief Lanier is a native of Dunn, North Carolina.