New London — Chris Soto currently serves as the founding director of New London’s College Access Program, a non-profit organization that serves Southeastern Connecticut’s low-income and first-generation college-bound students, launching them on the path to a college degree and beyond.

Soto graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in operations research. Following graduation, he served on the Coast Guard Cutter VALIANT in Miami, Florida as the assistant engineer officer conducting counter drug and immigration operations. Soon after, he was then stationed in New York City at the Maritime Safety and Security Team. There, he served as team leader for a specialized tactical team supporting port security missions. Anxious to enter the educational field, he left the service in 2008 returning to New London to work as the assistant director of diversity at the Coast Guard Academy, primarily working on initiatives to improve student retention.

In 2011, he graduated from Brown University with a Master of Public Administration, primarily focusing on education policy. Soto lives in New London and serves on the board of directors for the academy’s alumni association as well chairman of New London’s College Advisory Committee. Above all, he remains passionate about expanding educational access to underserved students.