As the Commanding Officer of Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center Atlantic (MIFC LANT), CAPT Ricklefs is responsible for providing timely, actionable intelligence to Coast Guard operational commanders throughout Coast Guard Atlantic Area, which is comprised of all cutters, air stations, and shore units along the U.S. East Coast, Gulf Coast, and Great Lakes. Prior to assuming command of MIFC LANT in July 2017, CAPT Ricklefs completed a wide array of shipboard, aviation, and intelligence assignments. He served as a deck watch officer on the Coast Guard Cutters DEPENDABLE and DAUNTLESS. He completed Naval Flight Training and served as a HH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot at Air Stations Houston and Miami. He also served as the Operations Officer of Coast Guard Group / Air Station North Bend where he managed all search and rescue and law enforcement operations along Oregon’s southern coast. As an intelligence officer, CAPT Ricklefs experience is equally diverse. He served as an Intelligence Watch Chief and Intelligence Operations Officer for Joint Interagency Task Force-South. He helped establish and served as the first commanding officer of Coast Guard Cryptologic Unit Hawaii. And most recently, he served as the U.S. Cyber Command liaison to U.S. Southern Command. CAPT Ricklefs is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the Joint Military Intelligence College, and completed a research fellowship at the National Intelligence University. He earned an undergraduate degree in civil engineering and a graduate degree in Strategic Intelligence.