Base Detachment Saint Louis, Missouri

Lieutenant Commander Ben Karpinski serves as the Supervisor of Base Detachment Saint Louis.  Prior to his current assignment, Lieutenant Commander Karpinski served as the Commanding Officer, PSSU Saint Louis, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate at the United States Coast Guard Academy and as Staff Attorney for the Eighth Coast Guard District.  In support of Naval Force Europe’s Africa Partnership Station, Lieutenant Commander Karpinski has provided extensive maritime law instruction in Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, and São Tomé and Príncipe.  Before becoming sworn as a Military Judge, Lieutenant Commander Karpinski served as trial and defense counsel before Coast Guard and Marine Corps courts-martial. 

Lieutenant Commander Karpinski holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Human Development from the University of Kansas and earned his Juris Doctorate with Honors and a Family Law Certificate from Washburn University School of Law.  He is an Honors Graduate of the Naval Justice School and a member of the bars of the United States Supreme Court, the Federal District of Kansas, the State of Kansas, and the State of Missouri.  Lieutenant Commander Karpinski and his wife, Sarah, have two children, Simon and Griffin.    

Lieutenant Commander Karpinski’s military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device, and various other service, unit, team, and personal awards.