Rear Admiral Steven H. Ratti assumed command of the Fifth Coast Guard District in April 2012. In this capacity, he has overall responsibility for the full range of Coast Guard maritime safety and security missions carried out in the mid-Atlantic region, from central New Jersey through North Carolina. His most recent Flag assignment was as U.S. Southern Command's Director of Operations. As the J3, Rear Admiral Ratti directed all military operations in the Caribbean, Central, and South America. Rear Admiral Ratti also served as Director, Joint Interagency Task Force West, U.S. Pacific Command's executive agent for planning and implementing counter-drug strategy throughout Asia and the Pacific. He assumed Flag rank in November 2007.
Rear Admiral Ratti is a native of Rockville, Maryland and a 1978 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Economics and Management. Rear Admiral Ratti holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a Master of Science in Instructional Technology from Florida State University.
Primarily serving in the surface afloat forces, Rear Admiral Ratti commanded four Coast Guard cutters; USCGC Point Hope out of Sabine, Texas; USCGC Sapelo out of Eureka, California; USCGC Thetis out of Key West, Florida; and USCGC Jarvis out of Honolulu, Hawaii. Other afloat tours included Deck Watch Officer in USCGC Campbell, Executive Officer in USCGC Midgett, and Deck Watch Officer in USCGC Eagle during Cadet Summer Training Programs while stationed at the Coast Guard Academy.
Ashore, he has served as a Company Officer at the Coast Guard Academy and as Chief of the Maritime Law Enforcement School at the Coast Guard Training Center at Yorktown, Virginia. He served as the Coast Guard Representative and as Deputy to the Executive Director of the U.S. Interdiction Coordinator Office of National Drug Control Policy. Rear Admiral Ratti served as Deputy to the Director of Reserve and Training, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. He has served as Chief of Staff for the Fifth Coast Guard District, and Chief of Staff for Coast Guard Atlantic Area.
Rear Admiral Ratti's military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (four awards), the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal (three awards), and various unit and team awards.